Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of
the Third Week of Lent (06th March, 2018) on the Gospel
Dan 3:25.34-43;
Ps 24:4-9 (R. v. 6);
Matt 18:21-35.
Topic: If you want then....
In today’s gospel Peter asked Jesus how often one is bound to
forgive his/her brothers and sisters, “As many as seven times?” Jesus replied,
“Not seven times, but ... seventy-seven times.” Jesus further gave the parable
of the unforgiving slave who owed the king ten thousand talents. As he could
not pay this huge amount he pleaded with the king for time. Contrary to his
prayer, out of pity the king forgave him the debt. But as this slave stepped
out he met a fellow slave who owed him a hundred denarii. He seized him by the
throat saying, “Pay what you owe.” His fellow salve’s prayer for time fell on
deaf ears. The unforgiving slave threw his fellow slave into prison until he
would pay the debt.
To help us understand better, a talent worth more than
fifteen years wages of a labourer whereas a denarius was a day’s wage of a
labourer. Just imagine the big difference between what the unforgiving slave
owed the king and what other slave owed him. He asked for time and got much more
than what he asked for but his fellow slave asked for time and got imprisonment.
When the king heard what happened, he summoned the
unforgiving slave and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that
debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow
slave, as I had mercy on you?” The gospel reads further,
And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he
would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of
you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.
Think of how often we wrong God and run to Him for
forgiveness. And we know that He forgives all who come to Him with sincere
heart, cf. 2Chr 7:14; Jer 33:8; Ps 85:2; 1Jn 1:9. How often do
we forgive others? God wants us to forgive others just as He forgives us, cf. Col 3:13. One must forgive as many
times as he or she is wronged, cf. Lk
17:4.
Lenten season is not just a time of receiving forgiveness
from God but most importantly a time of giving forgiveness to others. Whoever fails
to forgive piles up his or her sins against him/herself. Decide wisely!
Bible Reading: Matt 6:9-15; Mk 11:25.
Thought for today: You will be forgiven if only you forgive.
Let us pray: Lord, remove from us the heart of
stone and give us a new heart of flesh and a new spirit to enable us forgive
others – Amen (cf. Ezek 36:26).
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