One of the great blessings of my childhood was attending our parochial school, which was run by dedicated religious sisters. At least once a month they paraded the entire student body over to church to confess our sins to one of the parish priests. One pastor had a reputation among us children for being severe, and doling out penances to match his reputation.
I had four younger brothers, one of whom will remain nameless for his own protection. He loved going to confession to the pastor before the rest of us.
He then delighted in bragging that he told the pastor all our sins and faults. Of course, he came across looking like an angel. We had no choice then but to come clean with the priest in confession.
Our Gospel today focuses on the gift of forgiveness.
This is a golden thread weaving its way through all four Gospels and the entire New Testament, and in Jesus’ ministry and preaching.
When it comes to the offenses visited upon us by others, we usually have total recall of every insult, every slight, every small way in which we have been hurt by others.
That’s why forgiving even once or twice is so difficult.
How about seven times, or more, as Peter suggests?
Yet Jesus says to him, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."
In other words, forgive always, without let up, and without conditions. Your whole life must be shaped by forgiveness.
Jesus tells the parable in today’s Gospel for this reason. The man who had been forgiven so much should, at the very least, shown forgiveness to the one who owed him so little.
Here is the spiritual heart of the matter: whatever you think anyone owes you, is infinitely less than what God has graciously given to you.
The divine forgiveness of you, is infinitely greater than any forgiveness you might be called upon to offer.
Becoming a missionary disciple of Christ entails living a life of grace, of giving life to others, of forgiving and offering peace to them no matter what their response is or how many times they offend or sin against you.
Friends, we are invited by the Gospel parable to allow the grace of forgiveness that has been poured into us by the Lord to flow through us into the lives and hearts of all family members, loved ones, and even strangers or enemies.
Can you imagine Mother Teresa of Calcutta not forgiving? Or Mary or Joseph or Jesus refusing to let the grace of forgiveness flow through them to us? Never!
Amen.
