Thursday of the 19th week in ordinary time year A
Joshua 3:7-10a.11.13-17 Mat. 18:21-19:1
Theme: Forgiveness
In the gospel reading of today, Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive his brother who sin against him, and Jesus said seventy times seven. The answer of Jesus clearly shows that he wants us to forgive as often as we are offended by others. Jesus is simply saying that we should emulate him by forgiving one another, just the same way he forgives us when we offend him. Humanly speaking, sometimes it can be very challenging to forgive one who has offended us in one way or the other, but Jesus is encouraging us today to learn to let go. When we find ourselves in such a difficult situation and we are finding it to let go and forgive our offender, it is important that we take the situation to God for his assistance. If we take the situation to God with a sincere heart, he will lead us to forgiveness.
However, sometimes it may take some time to come to full forgiveness, but if we are sincere about it, God will give us the necessary graces needed for that situation. The parable given by Jesus about the king who wants to settle account with his servants should help us to have a deeper understanding of what Jesus means about forgiveness. It is not proper to expect and receive forgiveness, but not to be willing to do the same for others. We can see the reaction of the other servants and their master the king, when he heard about the action of the servant that he forgave. This will go a long way to show us what happens when we refuse to forgive all those who offend us in one way or the other.
I know it may be difficult sometimes to forgive some offenses of people against us, at such moments let us look up to God and beg for his grace to guide us and give us a forgiving spirit to let go, just the same way God forgives us all our sins. So, you can imagine if God decides to deal with us like the king dealt with this wicked servant, what will be our fate at the end? The outcome of such a situation is not what any of us would want for himself or herself, so let us be mindful of this fact and be guided accordingly. This is simply the issue of doing to others what you want done to you. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.