It is 13th September 2020. We celebrate the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The readings are from Sirach 27:30-28:7; the second reading is from Romans 14:7-9; and the Gospel from Matthew 18:21-35.
The readings invite us to forgive because we enjoy the forgiveness of God.
It is the most difficult and challenging thing in life is to forgive the others.
Forgiveness is the hallmark of our Christian virtue. All our prayers and charity are a waste if we cannot forgive the other.
There are no conditions attached when it comes for forgiveness.
The secret of happiness hidden in our weakness in forgiving the other.
The source of unhappiness is hardness of heart and a stubbornness refusal in forgiving the other.
Happiness and health depend on our capacity to show mercy and forgiving those who have hurt us.
Unless we forgive, we are imprisoned in the gage of unforgiveness.
To forgive is human and it is a necessity not a luxury. Forgiveness is a grace from God.
Countless way we need to forgive. To receive, we need to give.
To experience God’s forgiveness, we need to forgive.
We need to forgive those who do harm to us.
A theological seminary student was playing basketball. One of the boys who envied Antony made him fall and sprain his ankle while he attempted to drop the ball into net. He was so angry and wanted to retaliate to him but he could not immediate because he was in pain. with that pain in his leg and in heart, he went to bed. In his dream he saw the brother who made him fall. Hence he gave a kick so hard to wake up holding another leg hitting a chair near the bed.
The first reading from book of Sirach strongly suggests the criterion for happiness is forgiveness that vengeance is not the only appropriate response to hurtful situation and conditions. Our prayers are unanswered when we hold grudges, resentment, and anger in our heart. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. We all love a clean environment and so we try all means to keep our outside environment so clean forgetting there is another milieu we take for granted. “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Lk.6:38).
The responsorial Psalm praises, “The Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.” (Ps. 103:8).
We are under a permanent lockdown and suffocation when we refuse to forgive.
When we are stingy in forgiving, we cannot expect God to be generous in forgetting our sins and remembering our prayers.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19)
In the Gospel Jesus clarifies that forgiveness is not in quantity but in quality.
It is not a procedure but a process of healing.
One day when God appeared to a person who asked for his identity card. Without hesitation, God showed His Only Beloved Son Jesus who hung on the Cross.
We need to let go like our Lord. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk.23:34).
Let us confuse forgiveness with punishment. Rabbinical understanding is after three times of offence, the fourth time calls for punish. We need to forgive people but punish their crimes. Jesus reminds Peter it was not enough to forgive numerically but we need to forgive from our heart countlessly. Jesus was not impressed by the proposal of Peter in calculating the number of forgiveness we owe the other. Generosity of God in forgiving us is the criteria for our happiness.
Blessed John Paul II forgave Agca.
Ms. Elisa, the mother of Sr. Rani Maria forgave Samanthar Singh in prison who stabbed the sister more than 40 times and murdered.
Nelson Mandela taught the people of South Africa, “Unless one let go of their hurts they would remain in the grip of their abusers.”
The list is endless. When was the last time we forgave someone in our heart and felt the peace of Christ?
“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” (Ps.130:3,4).
In the second reading, St. Paul points out that we depend on each other for many things just because we are united in Christ.
The parable of the Unforgiving Servant offers a lesson that we need to remember the way we are forgiven by God before we render forgiveness to the other. Failed to appreciate and understand the gifts of God, we forget the benefits of God. We would never be able to pay back what God has forgiven. How could go on in our life so hard on others who owe an apology? “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.” (Mt.6:12). God gives us innumerable chances to change while we expect others to change instantly. To emulate the Lord in forgiving is a life time responsibility.
By forgiving the other, we become the instrument of love, mercy, and forgiveness of God.
God’s forgiveness is conditional. Patience of God is not limitless. It all depends on us and the way we are willing to respond, repent, and ready to let go off the hurts.
Whenever we refuse to forgive, we are doing harm to ourselves not anyone else.
Somehow, sometime, by someone we are hurt and caring the wounds even today. Without God’s help no one can forgive the other completely.
“So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
May the Lord grant us the courage to forgive others to enjoy the blessings of the Lord. Have a lovely day. God bless you.