3RD WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)
Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 & 7bc, 8 & 9
Remember your mercies, O Lord.
1st Reading: Dn 3:25, 34-43*
Azariah stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud: Do not abandon us forever, do not reject your Covenant for your name’s sake.
Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac, your servant, of Israel, your holy one, to whom you promised to multiply their race as the stars of heaven and the sand on the shore of the sea. (…)
But at least when we present ourselves with a contrite soul and humbled spirit may we then be acceptable to you, more than by offerings of rams and calves as holocausts, and of thousands of fat lambs. (…)
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35
Then Peter asked him, “Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. Among the first of them was one who owed him ten thousand pieces of gold. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, his children and all his goods, as repayment.
The servant threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’ The king took pity on him, and not only set him free, but even canceled his debt.
When this servant left the king’s presence, he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the throat and almost choked him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’ But the other did not agree, and sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.
Now the servants of the king saw what had happened. They were extremely upset, and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his servant and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ The lord was now angry. He handed the wicked servant over to be punished, until he had paid the whole debt.”
Jesus added, “So will my heavenly Father do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.”
Reflections
NOT SEVEN TIMES BUT
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN TIMES
Sometimes it seems like Jesus is asking the impossible of his followers. It is hard enough to forgive once – but Jesus demands that we forgive seventy times seven times which actually means ALWAYS. In fact, when he taught us the Our Father, the prayer is asking for forgiveness AS WE forgive others which means that if we don’t forgive others we are asking God not to forgive us! Yes, it is not easy to forgive. When I think for example of rape or incest victims, I understand why it is so hard for them, almost impossible, to forgive their abuser. It will take a long time. And to forgive does not mean to say that there was no sin or no harm done. No the perpetrators are still guilty and it can also mean that the victim can sue them. But forgiveness means not to wish these persons ill, also not to “wallow in the luxury of our misery”. Many of us find it hard to forgive the slightest slight or hurt to our ego. These are the ones that occur in our lives seventy times seven times and we are enjoined to forgive every time. Because every time we forgive, we weaken our ego and we come closer to finding our true selves.
Daily Reflection 2018
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