My Sisters and Brothers:
Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, found in today’s Gospel, follows immediately after last week’s passage in which he challenged his disciples to treat others with great deference and respect, even if they had “sinned” against them. Today we’ve heard Peter’s question: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive . . . as many as seven times?” This was actually a rhetorical question (i.e., he already knew the answer), a fact illustrated by his use of the number “seven.” Peter, and all of those who had been listening, would have understood the number “seven” to mean “perfectly” and/or “without end.” Therefore, and to emphasize this sense of infinite forgiveness of others, Jesus replied to Peter by saying: “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times” (see Matthew 18:21-35). In some translations of this passage, and perhaps more emphatically making the point, it reads: “not seven, but seventy times seven.” These words, no-matter how “the math” was done, were meant to convey the most superlative sense possible about the Christian imperative to forgive others (i.e., infinity upon infinity, and to a limitless degree most unimaginable).
We are we called to be forgiving because the Father in heaven has forgiven us, and we are to treat others as we ourselves have been treated. Therefore the words from the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others” must have very real and definitive meaning for us. And so, if someone claiming to be a Christian receives forgiveness, but subsequently refuses to forgive others, then the grace and the peace of forgiveness, which had been imparted to that so-called Christian, would then become null and void. We’re sure of this because Jesus warned that such unforgiving people would be treated like those committed to debtors’ prison, where such people were “handed over to the torturers until they paid back their whole debt.” Using this analogy, Jesus said: “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or sister from your heart.” Hence Jesus clearly taught those who failed to forgive others as they had been forgiven would be severely rebuked, and they would suffer greatly. I truly believe we must be most attentive to this very clear admonition of Jesus; we should never take for granted the grace, the mercy, the love, and the forgiveness of God, and we must treat others as we ourselves have been treated. If we claim to be Christians, we have no choice about embracing Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness. That’s the deal, and it’s as simple as that!
Are you angry with someone? Let it go! Has someone caused harm to you? Put it in the past! Is the desire for vengeance preoccupying you? Dispel the thoughts! Do you struggle with the idea of pardoning the misdeeds and/or mistakes of certain family members or friends? Be free of the burden! Are resentments and bitterness toward others controlling your life? Cast those feelings aside! If the truth should be told, isn’t “forgiveness” actually more about “the one who forgives” than it’s about “the one who is forgiven?” And so when we release from our lives of all of the negative feelings and energies typically associated with the lack of forgiveness, then whatever “power over us” the sin or the sinner might otherwise have had is simply driven away from our lives. I believe the alternative (i.e., holding on to all of that non-forgiving nonsense) very much makes us vulnerable to great sufferings, and that kind of metaphorical “being handed over to the torturers,” about which Jesus warned his followers. And who wants that?
My friends, when Jesus told his disciples to forgive others “seventy-seven times” or even as many as “seventy times seven,” he really meant what he was saying! And so, as we strive to continue treating others, even “sinners,” with great deference and respect, let’s do so in the most superlative sense possible as we follow the Gospel imperative about forgiveness. And then, after casting out all negative energies from our lives, and with genuine words, sentiments, and deeds, let’s continue to pray: “Our Father . . . forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others!”
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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