Cycle A - Year 1:  

17 September 2017:  Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Sirach 27:30--28:7

Second Reading:   Romans 14:7-9

Gospel:Please Read  Matthew 18:21-35

The challenge to forgive!

In the olden days, we hear the dictum: "To err is human, to forgive is divine."

It means that it is human nature to make mistakes. Or it is natural for people to make mistakes. But while anyone can make mistake, we should aspire to do as God does, that is, show mercy and forgiveness to sinners.

But then from our human experience it is not easy to forgive, because certain grief and pain does not easily heal and continues to burn the heart.

That is why, sometimes we hear people say, "I forgive you, but I do not forget!" Rancor, tensions, diverse opinions, insults, offenses, provocations, all these render pardon and reconciliation difficult.

This Sunday's Gospel challenges us to forgive. And so our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to us about the need for pardon.

Peter asked Jesus, "...how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?"

Now, in the Bible, number 7 indicates perfection. So in this case, it is synonymous of "always".

Jesus' response goes beyond the proposal of Peter. Our Lord clearly eliminates any limitation to forgiving: "Not seven, I tell you, but seventy seven times!", He said to Peter.

Because to Jesus, forgiveness is not to be quantified. Rather, it is a quality, a way of being, a way of living, a way of loving, a way of relationship, a way of thinking and seeing. In other words, forgiveness is nothing less than the way of Christ Himself, as He forgave the sinner while hanging on the cross. And if we are to follow our Lord Jesus, then forgiveness must become our way as well, definitely.

Now, it does not mean we forget, condone, or approve of whatever wrong was done. It does not mean we ignore or excuse cruelty or injustice. But forgiving in our heart is the only way forward. It means we are released from anger and the desire for revenge. Because we look to the future rather than the past. We try to see and love as God sees and loves. Thus, forgiveness is a way in which we align our life with God's life.

In the Gospel, Jesus declares that as God has forgiven our debts, we are expected to be as generous to others in forgiving their debts as well.

Let us try to meditate on the words of Jesus which speaks about reconciliation, and which speaks to us about the parable of pardon without limits.

Because there is no proportion between the pardon which we receive from God and the pardon which we should offer to our brothers, as the parable of pardon without limits teaches us today.

In sum, we must forgive others as God Himself has forgiven us. The only limit to the gratuity of God is our own incapacity to forgive our erring brothers.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

.Ad Jesum per Mariam!