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A Reading From The Holy Gospel According To Matthew

This passage from the Gospel of Matthew discusses Jesus teaching his disciples about forgiveness. When Peter asks Jesus if he should forgive someone seven times, Jesus responds that one should forgive seventy-seven times. Jesus then tells a parable about a servant who is forgiven a large debt by his master but refuses to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller debt. The master punishes the unforgiving servant to teach that if we do not forgive others, neither will God forgive us. The reflection emphasizes that true forgiveness requires changing one's heart and letting go of bitterness to heal wounds and build healthy relationships, as taught by Jesus.

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Kelvin Jay Sebastian Sapla
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90 views1 page

A Reading From The Holy Gospel According To Matthew

This passage from the Gospel of Matthew discusses Jesus teaching his disciples about forgiveness. When Peter asks Jesus if he should forgive someone seven times, Jesus responds that one should forgive seventy-seven times. Jesus then tells a parable about a servant who is forgiven a large debt by his master but refuses to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller debt. The master punishes the unforgiving servant to teach that if we do not forgive others, neither will God forgive us. The reflection emphasizes that true forgiveness requires changing one's heart and letting go of bitterness to heal wounds and build healthy relationships, as taught by Jesus.

Uploaded by

Kelvin Jay Sebastian Sapla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times
seven. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts
with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand
talents; 25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that
he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him
and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' 29 So his
fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused
and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had
taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt
because you besought me; 33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy
on you?' 34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35 So also
my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
..
REFLECTION
Forgiveness
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22.
This question, posed by Peter to Jesus, was asked in such a way that Peter thought he was being quite
generous in his forgiveness. But to his surprise, Jesus adds to Peter’s generosity in forgiveness in an
exponential way.
For many of us, this sounds good in theory. It is inspiring and encouraging to ponder the depths
of forgiveness that we are called to offer another. But when it comes to daily practice, this may be much
harder to embrace.
By calling us to forgive not only seven times but seventy-seven times, Jesus is telling us that
there is no limit to the depth and breadth of mercy and forgiveness that we must offer another. No limit!
This spiritual truth must become far more than a theory or ideal we strive for. It must become a practical
reality which we embrace with all our might. We must daily seek to rid ourselves of any tendency we
have, no matter how small, to hold a grudge and remain in anger. We must seek to free ourselves from
every form of bitterness and allow mercy to heal every hurt.
When we have been hurt by another, it can be very difficult to come to terms with the
woundedness we feel. But by accepting and embracing our own wounds we open a door to forgiveness
and new life. Too often people hoard grudges in their hearts which eventually affect their ability to
develop healthy human relationships.
One of the most important skills we each need is that of knowing how to forgive. There is an
African proverb which states: ‘He who forgives ends the quarrel.’ Forgiveness builds us up and helps us
move on; whereas revenge destroys and creates bitterness. Forgiving helps us to heal our own wounds.
Some people consider those who forgive to be weak or to be cowards or stupid. But there is much
wisdom in the proverb: ‘The noblest vengeance is to forgive’. The gospels (Mt. 18:21-35) tell us that God
is always ready and willing to forgive, even the most serious faults of people. Now, if this is the
behaviour of our God, we do not have any pretext to deny anyone our forgiveness.
When we 'change our hearts' and forgive, we change ourselves and we 'change our world' for the
better. This is how we translate the life and message of Jesus into our daily lives.
Reflect, today, upon that person or persons you need to forgive the most. Forgiveness may not make
perfect sense to you right away and you may find that your feelings do not fall in line with the choice you
are trying to make. Do not give up! Continue to make the choice to forgive, regardless of how you feel or
how hard it is. In the end, mercy and forgiveness will always triumph, heal and give you the peace of
Christ.

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