Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

I am not telling you to forgive up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven times seven

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

At that time Peter came to Jesus and asked him, « Lord, when my brother commits faults against me, how often must I forgive him? Up to seven times? « Jesus replied, « I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Thus the kingdom of heaven is comparable to a king who wanted to settle his accounts with his servants. He began when someone who owed him ten thousand talents (that is, sixty million pieces of silver) was brought to him.
As this man did not have enough money to pay back, the master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children and all his possessions, to pay back his debt. Then, falling at his feet, the servant fell at his feet and said: ‘Be patient with me and I will repay you everything’. Seized with compassion, the master of this servant let him go and forgave him his debt. But on his way out, the servant found one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver.
He threw himself on him and strangled him, saying, ‘Pay back your debt’, and falling at his feet, his companion begged him, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you back’, but the other refused and had him thrown in prison until he had paid what he owed. When his companions saw this, they were deeply saddened and went to tell their master all that had happened. Then their master called him and said to him, ‘Wicked servant, I had forgiven you all this debt because you had begged me.
In his anger his master handed him over to the executioners until he had paid back everything he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from the bottom of your heart.

(Mt 18, 21-35)

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us !

This twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time could well be called « Forgiveness Sunday ». Today’s Word of God brings us face to face with the profoundly human and authentically Christian reality of forgiveness: it makes us reflect on the obstacles to forgiveness and the paths that lead us to it. Sooner or later, in your life, the question of forgiveness arises. Because sooner or later someone hurts you in some way.

Resentment and anger! Here we are on familiar ground and on the road to everyday life. Resentment is a well-kept plant whose fruits of anger and revenge are of all seasons! Resentment and anger of people, rage to make people pay dearly for the offence received or the harm caused .  Never, I will never forget! He will pay for it!  Woe to whoever hurts our vanity, casts a shadow on our image, touches the assets that stick to our skin ! Impossible forgiveness !

For a problem of closure, it’s the tension . How many resentments are stirred up, resentments between parents, children, spouses, neighbours and colleagues at work… Even at the threshold of churches, we see people who refuse to greet each other, but they sing together the « Our Father » who condemns them : « Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us ».  Two centuries before Jesus Christ, Ben Sirac, the Wise Man (First Reading), who observed the human person at length and contemplated God at length, quickly came to identify three great enemies of forgiveness: grudge, anger and revenge, and he reminded his readers of two profound truths that are still very relevant today for our generation.

Firstly, do not keep in your heart all those negative feelings that are called hatred, rancor, desire for revenge, anger, refusal to forgive… Secondly, if you keep these poisons in your heart, how can you count on the forgiveness of others and how can you seek God’s forgiveness? To all these enemies of inner peace and peace with others, Ben Sirac has only one word: « Forgive… if you want to be forgiven by your God. « Forgive your neighbour for the wrong he has done to you; then at your prayer your sins will be forgiven.

In today’s Gospel, Peter’s question to the Lord is as relevant and topical as ever : « When my brother commits sins against me, how often must I forgive him ? «   Peter proposes a number to the Lord : « Up to seven times ? ». Jesus refuses to enter into his calculations. This is the meaning of his answer: « Up to seventy times seven times seven! « Jesus justifies an unlimited forgiveness : « You must forgive all the time ! »
For God, we are all in the situation of this servant who owes his master a fantastic amount of money. Through an incomprehensible love, God has forgiven us this debt. And, cependant¸ when we have to forgive, we hesitate and very often we decide by haggling or refusal. However, at Mass, we sing : « Lord have mercy on us », while too often having too little mercy on others !

God forgives with the same patience and generosity as the king Jesus speaks of in the parable. His forgiveness, however, presupposes that the lesson bears fruit in us. It is also up to us to understand and have mercy, to forgive and forgive the debts of our brothers and sisters. « Forgive us as we forgive those who have offended us. »

Deacon Michel Houyoux

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Connections to other Christian websites

◊ Loyola Press : click here to read the paper →  Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

◊ NCR Forward  : click here to read the paper → Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

♥ Homily for Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time preached by Father Paul Werley, C.O