Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 - 3rd Week of Lent - Tues
[Dan 3:25, 34-43 and Matt 18:21-35]Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-times seven times." [Matthew]
I have been a priest for nearly 53 years and have come to the conclusion that the Sacrament of Reconciliation has become more a sacrament of "guilt relief" than of reconciliation. The parable that forms the gospel scripture for today - the parable of the Unforgiving Servant - illustrates what I mean. The first servant receives relief from his huge debt but refuses to extend that same mercy to a fellow servant for a minor debt. The Sacrament of Reconciliation should be the first step in a further process of forgiveness. That is why, in preaching parish missions, on then night of the "penance service," I have used an examination of conscience that focuses not on a list of actions but on a list of persons, beginning with God, self, parents, siblings, superiors, co-workers, professional people, etc.. Whom do WE need to forgive once we have received forgiveness from God? And FROM WHOM do we need to ask forgiveness? I believe that if we remember the person, we'll remember the action.
The parable is a reinforcement of the prayer that we say thousands of times in our Christian lives - the Lord's Prayer (or as we Catholics are fond of calling it, the "Our Father.") There is a line that says, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!" [Matt. 6:12]. And right after the "deliver us from evil" words, there is an explicit warning from Jesus: "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]
If we ask God for forgiveness of our sins, we must be prepared to extend that same mercy to others. Yes, it is difficult - perhaps one of the most difficult things Jesus asks of us. A thousand "What if's" cannot erase it. It can be a truly profound Lent to forgive for once and for all the people who have hurt us, uniting our own forgiveness to the one Jesus speaks from the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" AMEN