”Peter approached Jesus and asked him, ’Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?’” (Mt. 18:21)
Now I use the remote to change the channel back to something like “Fear Factor.” I’d rather watch people eat worms than hear the answer to this question. The Gospel for Tuesday of the Third week of Lent continues.
”Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.’” (Mt. 18:22)
This is a hard teaching for me. I can go to Mass on Sunday. I will fast when fasting is expected. I will not steal. I will not covet my neighbor’s goods. But don’t ask me to forgive that *$#*@. This must be a typo. No one in their right mind could expect me to forgive them, could they?
Forgiveness is so central to the message of Jesus, that he ends the story of the unforgiving servant in this passage saying.
”Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.’” (Mt 18: 34-35)
As I read this story I feel like the man who walked away from Jesus, on his invitation to sell everything he had and give it to the poor, because he was very rich. I may walk away because I have so much to forgive.
As Lent points me toward the cross and resurrection I pray for the strength to forgive the people whom I have not yet forgiven.
”Remember your mercies, O Lord.” (Ps 25:6a)