Wrath and anger are hateful things,
yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance,
for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor’s injustice;
then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD?
Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,
can he seek pardon for his own sins?
If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,
who will forgive his sins?
Remember your last days, set enmity aside;
remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;
remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.
Second reading Romans 14:7-9
Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
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.”
Reflection
By Ma. Rosalina S. Flores
Because they say, “Sorry seems to be the hardest word”, would you agree therefore that forgiveness becomes the most difficult act to do?
After teaching us how to resolve issues with our brothers and sisters last Sunday, Christ is now bringing us to a higher level of saving relationships.
Today’s Gospel presents us a concrete guide to forgiveness. Firstly, it should be given seventy-seven times meaning no limit, endless, and on-going contrary to Peter’s generous suggestion to Jesus of limiting forgiveness to just seven times. As long as the person repents and promises to change for the better, he must be forgiven. Secondly, forgiveness is the result of being moved with compassion which is mercy, that we ourselves have received when God the Father forgave our sins and saved us through His Son, Jesus Christ. As we have received mercy, we are also called to be merciful to our brothers and sisters. That is what the king in Gospel’s story was expecting from his servant as he cancelled all his debts, but the latter failed to do so toward his debtor. In the end, the measure he used toward his fellow servant is the same measure applied to him by the king.
Although properly guided by the teachings, Jesus’ model of forgiveness is still a tough one to follow. When we were young, we settled conflicts easily. Why? It is because we value more the person, our playmate than our issues, as it is happier to always play games with someone. But as we grow older and began to become entitled, we now justify our actions so we found it difficult to see our own shortcomings. We blame all the faults to our brothers, nourish anger in our hearts, desire vengeance, and always wish to get even. We think more of ourselves and the pains they caused us, than the relationships we have established with them. As our First Reading says, “Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins?” How can we confidently pray Our Father and recite “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sins against us”, if we hate our neighbor?
Today, Jesus tells us to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. Numerous times, big or small offense, He embraces us completely, giving us chances to start anew. Yet, as human beings who are hurt by betrayal and injustice, God knows that our path to forgiveness is a process that will take time. It is a grace that we should ask from above. Let us be reminded that as we open ourselves in the process, Jesus is walking with us, encouraging us, and over time, will give us the grace to let go and forgive the one who hurt us, soon.
Prayer
Father, I pray for those who have caused me hurt, and even if I cannot wish them well now, I pray that one day I might, through Your Son, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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