Jesus, how many times do I have to forgive someone if they have sinned against me? Peter was asking a question that many of us may have asked at one time or another in our lives. Consider yourselves blessed if you have never been hurt by what someone said or did to you. Peter was conflicted...
Peter was sincerely trying to follow Jesus and his teachings, and to imitate His actions. But for Peter, there must have been some particular instances where he was finding it hard to forgive others.
Jesus answered Peter with a parable about a man who was forgiven, and who had received mercy, but when asked to be merciful with someone else, he became impatient and unforgiving. That person begged for forgiveness saying “be patient with me and I will pay you back” - but no mercy or forgiveness was extended.
Continuing the parable Jesus then spoke of the master who initially had extended mercy and forgiveness to the impatient man, but then rebuked him for his failure to remember that his entire debt was forgiven - making the man feel badly when all he was asking for was more patience, more time.
I tossed and turned all night asking myself how I would answer Peter today or anyone else who asks if we have to forgive someone who hurts us by what they say or do.
I would not proceed to talk about all the benefits there are to be had when we forgive. I know this to be true because as a confessor I see and experience it - however that is not why we need to forgive.
We need to forgive because He has forgiven us. Pure and simple.
That is why we forgive one another. Jesus told us to.
He taught us to forgive. Forgive one another as I have forgiven you. I am reminded of what Saint Jane de Chantel told her religious women, the Visitation nuns, "hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about."
Saint Claire said it differently. Look at the mirror daily. Study well your reflection. What do you see? It is your source of contemplation. Do you see Christ in all his wonder? Do you see reflected the image and likeness of him who died for us? Can we say thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Can we say and believe that where you are Lord, there is mercy, there is truth?
That being so, then mercy and truth are in me also and I am called to forgive. I believe in you, Jesus. Help my unbelief and as I struggle to extend mercy and forgiveness to others who have hurt me, be patient with me until the day that I am able to pay you back in full.
