Fr. Alex Roman sx
For this twenty fourth Sunday in ordinary time, the Gospel word gives us an exhortation about the forgiveness in the community. This parable from Matthew is put at the conclusion of I
Jesus’ discourse on the community. It is an exhortation about forgiveness. We can do it together, not because we are right, but because we are ourselves forgiven and, so, we need to forgive. As evil appears in the community, so forgiveness stands as the constant victory of love.
It is useful to keep in mind that we only forgive others if we accept being forgiven by God.
Peter's question to Jesus serves to introduce the parable about forgiveness. Jesus' response is “not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times”. Jesus says that one must forgive not seven times, not even seventy times, but seventy-seven times. Our great desire for revenge is here challenged with unlimited forgiveness.
“A man who owed ten thousand talents”: this is what each of us has received from God. At the beginning from God we have received everything, what we are and what we have, and He is always ready to forgive us when we misuse some of His gifts by doing evil to one another. To live according to God’s will it is necessary to move from the desire of revenge to the value of true love for all, no matter what.
From God I have received only love, and love without measure or purpose. As I am made in His image and likeness, so my life is meaningful only if I live with total love for others, without selfishness, bargaining or revenge. This Sunday's Gospel is then a powerful exhortation to all of us Christians to forgive all and always, for, the mother of all sins is to refuse forgiveness, to kill the love of the Father in me for the whole world.
In conclusion, the discourse on community begins with the little one and ends with the sinner. The little one is welcomed by the Lord with all his limits; the sinner is forgiven of all his faults and debts. From me, as from the Lord, have a nice Sunday.
For this twenty fourth Sunday in ordinary time, the Gospel word gives us an exhortation about the forgiveness in the community. This parable from Matthew is put at the conclusion of I
Jesus’ discourse on the community. It is an exhortation about forgiveness. We can do it together, not because we are right, but because we are ourselves forgiven and, so, we need to forgive. As evil appears in the community, so forgiveness stands as the constant victory of love.
It is useful to keep in mind that we only forgive others if we accept being forgiven by God.
Peter's question to Jesus serves to introduce the parable about forgiveness. Jesus' response is “not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times”. Jesus says that one must forgive not seven times, not even seventy times, but seventy-seven times. Our great desire for revenge is here challenged with unlimited forgiveness.
“A man who owed ten thousand talents”: this is what each of us has received from God. At the beginning from God we have received everything, what we are and what we have, and He is always ready to forgive us when we misuse some of His gifts by doing evil to one another. To live according to God’s will it is necessary to move from the desire of revenge to the value of true love for all, no matter what.
From God I have received only love, and love without measure or purpose. As I am made in His image and likeness, so my life is meaningful only if I live with total love for others, without selfishness, bargaining or revenge. This Sunday's Gospel is then a powerful exhortation to all of us Christians to forgive all and always, for, the mother of all sins is to refuse forgiveness, to kill the love of the Father in me for the whole world.
In conclusion, the discourse on community begins with the little one and ends with the sinner. The little one is welcomed by the Lord with all his limits; the sinner is forgiven of all his faults and debts. From me, as from the Lord, have a nice Sunday.