August 12, 2010
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile. The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole that he has dug in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone. Ezekiel 12:11-12
Then Peter approaching asked him, "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
Piety
Psalm 78:56-62
But they tested, rebelled against God Most High, his decrees they did not observe.
They turned back, deceitful like their ancestors; they proved false like a bow with no tension.
They enraged him with their high places; with their idols they goaded him.
God heard and grew angry; he rejected Israel completely.
He forsook the shrine at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt with humans.
He gave up his might into captivity, his glorious ark into the hands of the foe.
God abandoned his people to the sword; he was enraged against his heritage.
Study
Limitless forgiveness. That is the point of Jesus’ answer to St. Peter in today’s Good News.
Peter wants to know how often he must forgive someone who sins against him. He posits the answer at seven times. (Seven is the Biblical number of perfection.) Jesus answers using the expression “seven times seventy.” What the Lord means by this is that forgiveness is to be given beyond perfection -- without limit. Jesus goes on to describe that concept with the story of the unmerciful servant. The parable ends with the lesson that our Father in heaven will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant. "So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." Matthew 18:35
Action
Limitless forgiveness is perfection in the eyes of Jesus. Limitless forgiveness will be a difficult lesson for us to learn and to practice.
Society helps us learn how to practice holding a grudge. Society tells us not to forgive. Yet forgiveness is the path to peace. Those nations who put forgiveness and reconciliation into practice are able to grow beyond the sins of the past. Poland. South Africa. Many of the nations which have been our enemies in past wars now enjoy free and fair trade with us. Germany. Japan. Viet Nam.
Who are you called to forgive? Perhaps someone has caused you harm, maybe even violently. Perhaps someone has abused you mentally and taken advantage of your presence. Perhaps someone has stolen something of great value emotionally or materially from you. Can you find it in your heart to emulate limitless forgiveness?
