Cycle A - Year II:  

13 September 2020: 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

"We forgive as we are forgiven!"

Why does the Catholic Church welcome sinners to her fold?  It's an accusation thrown against the Church many times.  Similar question was also asked of our Lord Jesus Himself by the Pharisees, "Why does He associate with tax collectors and sinners?"  Our Lord's response is:  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mk 2:17)  Indeed, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." (Lk 19:10)

So it is the same response the Church gives to its critics.  The Church is not a museum of saints but a hospital for sinners."  For ours is a world of imperfect beings, when Adam and Eve sinned against God.  And the saints are only found in heaven.

It means it is human nature to make mistakes, or it is natural for people to make mistakes.  But while we all can make mistakes, we should also aspire to do as God wants, to 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 speaks to us about the need for pardon.  Let us reflect on the Gospel proclamation.

Peter asked Jesus, "...how often must I forgive?  As many as seven times?"  Now, number seven in biblical context indicates perfection.  In this case, it is synonymous with 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.

To our Lord 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.

In the first reading, Sirach reminds us to "think of the commandment, hate not your neighbor." (28:7)

And also in Romans, Paul tells us that we belong to God. "For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's" (14:8)

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 and sisters.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!