Word to the Wise
Sunday, September 17, 2017 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Sir 27:30-28:7; Rom 14:7-9; Matt 18:21-35]Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.....Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? [Sirach] Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." [Matthew]
One of the first prayers we learn is the "Our Father." The chances are, then, that we have prayed with that prayer thousands of times! That means we have continually said these words: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...." We have continually asked God to forgive us to the extent that we forgive others! When Jesus taught this prayer to his disciples, he added these words, "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." [Matt. 6:14-15] The connection seems pretty clear. Later on, in the parable that forms the gospel scripture for this Sunday, Jesus tells Peter that not only must Peter forgive but he must forgive often. The parable of the unforgiving servant follows this. In the parable, a servant who owes a debt beyond his ability to pay is forgiven the debt when he begs for mercy. But then that servant refuses to forgive a small debt when the debtor just needs a little extra time. The Master hears about this and punishes the first servant by reinstating the original indebtedness, which means a lasting sorrow. The final line is chilling: "So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."
It is easy to forget that the Sacrament of Reconciliation does not end with our receiving absolution. We have promised a "firm purpose of amendment." The forgiveness we have received is meant to be shared with others. In parish missions that I preach, I use an examination of conscience that focuses on the people in our lives and not on the sins. Who are the people in our lives that we need to forgive or ask for forgiveness? Who is the person that has hurt me the most? Who are the people we are most likely to have hurt? Reconciliation is not always possible, although it should be tried. The person we hurt or who hurt us may be deceased or is not willing to reconcile. But forgiveness is completely in our power. No one can prevent us from forgiving except our own "hugging tight" to our wrath and anger. The lessons from the Book of Sirach and the teaching of Jesus are clear. If we expect forgiveness, we must forgive as well. AMEN
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