The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our practice of forgiveness and seek the aid of the Holy Spirit to rise to the example set by Jesus.
The reading from the Book of Sirach offers wisdom about Anger and Vengeance.
* [27:16–28:11] Betrayal of confidence through indiscretion destroys friendship and does irreparable harm (27:16–21); cf. 22:22. False friendship based on hypocrisy and deceit is hateful to Ben Sira and, he adds, to God as well (27:22–24); it soon becomes a victim of its own treachery (27:25–27). The same fate awaits the malicious and vengeful (27:28–28:1). They can obtain mercy and forgiveness only by first forgiving their neighbor, being mindful of death and of the commandments of the Most High (28:2–7). And they must avoid quarrels and strife (28:8–11). (Sirach, CHAPTER 27 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 103 is a thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans asserts that we Live and Die for Christ.
* [14:8] The Lord: Jesus, our Master. The same Greek word, kyrios, was applied to both rulers and holders of slaves. Throughout the Letter to the Romans Paul emphasizes God’s total claim on the believer; see note on Rom 1:1. (Romans, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches a parable on forgiveness.
* [18:21–35] The final section of the discourse deals with the forgiveness that the disciples are to give to their fellow disciples who sin against them. To the question of Peter how often forgiveness is to be granted (Mt 18:21), Jesus answers that it is to be given without limit (Mt 18:22) and illustrates this with the parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:23–34), warning that his heavenly Father will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:35). Mt 18:21–22 correspond to Lk 17:4; the parable and the final warning are peculiar to Matthew. That the parable did not originally belong to this context is suggested by the fact that it really does not deal with repeated forgiveness, which is the point of Peter’s question and Jesus’ reply.
* [18:22] Seventy-seven times: the Greek corresponds exactly to the LXX of Gn 4:24. There is probably an allusion, by contrast, to the limitless vengeance of Lamech in the Genesis text. In any case, what is demanded of the disciples is limitless forgiveness.
* [18:24] A huge amount: literally, “ten thousand talents.” The talent was a unit of coinage of high but varying value depending on its metal (gold, silver, copper) and its place of origin. It is mentioned in the New Testament only here and in Mt 25:14–30.
* [18:26] Pay you back in full: an empty promise, given the size of the debt.
* [18:28] A much smaller amount: literally, “a hundred denarii.” A denarius was the normal daily wage of a laborer. The difference between the two debts is enormous and brings out the absurdity of the conduct of the Christian who has received the great forgiveness of God and yet refuses to forgive the relatively minor offenses done to him.
* [18:34] Since the debt is so great as to be unpayable, the punishment will be endless.
* [18:35] The Father’s forgiveness, already given, will be withdrawn at the final judgment for those who have not imitated his forgiveness by their own. (Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
David Crawford comments that sometimes, injuries some individuals have suffered are so significant, the hurts they experienced are so deep rooted, the damage and despair they know is so extensive that they are not able to forgive fully without a lot of help and time.
They are so fragile that they can only withstand a little bit at a time. They may need to rest and recover before they can take the next step, before they can add to the forgiveness already given. I am confident, though, that the Holy Spirit is ready to do a staged reconstruction that will repair and reconfigure their heart so that they can know the joy of full forgiveness.
Loving God, thank you for forgiving us, and for the blessings of being able to forgive. Help us to forgive, and use us to help others who need the healing that comes from forgiving others. (Crawford, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “How often shall I forgive?” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"When Peter asked him whether he should forgive his brother sinning against him up to seven times, the Lord replied, 'Not up to seven times but up to seventy times seven times'" In every way he teaches us to be like him in humility and goodness. In weakening and breaking the impulses of our rampant passions he strengthens us by the example of his leniency, by granting us in faith pardon of all our sins. For the vices of our nature did not merit pardon. Therefore all pardon comes from him. In fact, he pardons even those sins that remain in one after confession. The penalty to be paid through Cain was established at sevenfold, but that sin was against a man, against his brother Abel, to the point of murder (Genesis 4:8). But in Lamech the penalty was established at seventy times seven times (Genesis 4:24), and, as we believe, the penalty was established on those responsible for the Lord's Passion. But the Lord through the confession of believers grants pardon for this crime. By the gift of baptism he grants the grace of salvation to his revilers and persecutors. How much more is it necessary, he shows, that pardon be returned by us without measure or number. And we should not think how many times we forgive, but we should cease to be angry with those who sin against us, as often as the occasion for anger exists. Pardon's frequency shows us that in our case there is never a time for anger, since God pardons us for all sins in their entirety by his gift rather than by our merit. Nor should we be excused from the requirement of giving pardon that number of times [i.e., seventy times seven], since through the grace of the gospel God has granted us pardon without measure." (excerpt from ON MATTHEW 18.10) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35 comments that not only does God forgive us again and again; he doesn’t hold our sins against us. Remember the unforgiving servant. His entire debt was wiped out. There was nothing hanging over him. Similarly, God has pardoned every sin we have ever committed and stands ready to forgive every sin we will ever commit. Nothing is outside the scope of his mercy. He forgives us everything.
This is the standard of mercy that Jesus calls us to imitate. It’s not so different from the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us . . . as we forgive” (Matthew 6:12). Granted, today’s parable is more graphic. But it shows us that God doesn’t want us imprisoned in unforgiveness and tortured by resentment. He knows how hard it is to forgive. But he went so far as to give us his only Son to cleanse us and soften our hearts so that we could share that same mercy.
Mercy goes beyond simply not punishing offenses. It forgives the entire debt. That’s how God treats us. Let that truth change how you treat the people who offend you.
“Heavenly Father, strengthen me to be able to forgive others as you have forgiven me!” (Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35, n.d.)
Gemma Simmonds CJ, Director of the Religious Life Institute at the Margaret Beaufort Institute in Cambridge, comments that we often mistake forgiveness for excusing. Excusing another is a rational exercise. We seek to find an explanation for why they have behaved so badly: they didn’t know any better, they had a terrible childhood, they were having an off day, they were under terrible pressure, they were stressed or provoked or in some way pushed off balance. These are excuses, and often reasonable ones, but this is not forgiving. Forgiveness is what is offered in the face of the inexcusable and, as such, is not generally within our human capacity. It is an attribute of God – indeed it is the attribute of God.
Jesus knew this, and perhaps that is why he taught us to pray for forgiveness, so that by experiencing God’s willingness to forgive us seventy times seven – the Jewish number of infinity – we might learn to open our hearts and minds to the grace offered by God whereby we become able to forgive each other. (Simmonds, 2020)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the exclusion of the Book of Sirach from the Protestant and Jewish canon because until recently only a Greek version of this wisdom book was known. Paul asserts to the Romans that we do not live for ourselves and we are called to root out our egocentric tendencies. Friar Jude reminds us of the role of purification in Purgatory and our need to see the brokenness of people as we extend forgiveness as Jesus teaches.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares parts of a homily on Matthew 14:13–21, Feeding the Five Thousand . He describes how Jesus created a community of compassion.
The important thing that God seems to want to be doing in history is to create a community of compassion where people care about one another. It is not only the feeding that matters to us, it is also the caring for other people’s hunger and needs. Jesus never once talked about attending church services, but he talked constantly about healing the sick and feeding the hungry. That is what it seems to mean to be a follower of Jesus. (Rohr, 2023)
We pray for the grace to view our brothers and sisters with compassion and accept the nudge of the Spirit to offer forgiveness based on their needs.
References
Crawford, D. (2023, September 16). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/091723.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?21
Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/17/784049/
Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Rohr, R. (2023, September 17). Creating a Community of Compassion — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/creating-a-community-of-compassion-2023-09-17/
Romans, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/14?7
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep17
Simmonds, G. (2020, March 25). A question of forgiveness. Thinking Faith. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/question-forgiveness
Sirach, CHAPTER 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/27
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