Tuesday of 3rd Week in Lent
Forgive Us As We Forgive
We don’t like too much – or not at all – to acknowledge it, but we have been forgiven a lot. Open, scandalous, upsetting sins… maybe not. Probably not. But scandalous in the sense of totally unexpected on the part of people who profess to be the sign of the Church, of Christ, of God… perhaps yes: antipathies, non-sharing, animosities, enmities nurtured for years, living side-by-side without genuine love and sharing, maybe yes… and to many or at least some the opposite of witnessing to what we profess to be, yes… Where is our forgiving others as God has forgiven us, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer?
First Reading: Daniel 3:25; 34-43
“But look!” he said. “I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!”
“Don’t ever, we beg you, abandon us – you have promised us otherwise, so please don’t water down your covenant.
“Don’t pry your mercy from our grasp; Abraham, your beloved friend, wouldn’t want that, nor would his son Isaac or his grandson Israel.
“ You promised that their seed would multiply like the stars in the sky, like th grains of sand on the beach.
“So why, O Lord, are we now the least favoured nation? Why are we ranked lowest of the low? It has to be because of our sins.
“How can we find favour with you if we don’t have a prince or a prophet or a leader? We have no altar on which to offer you sacrifices, offerings, incense, the first fruits of our fields.
“In spite of all this, look upon our contrite heart and humble spirit, as though we ourselves were rams and bulls or fatted lambs being offered to you. Let our bodies be our sacrifice in your sight today, so that we can follow you perfectly –perfectly in the sense that those who put their faith in you are never wrong.
“We follow you with our whole heart; fearing you still, we want to look upon your face.
“Don’t let us die in shame. Treat us the way always have; massage us with your usual gentility; smother us with your inexhaustible mercy.
“Wrap us in your wondrous ways; restore glory to your name, O Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”
Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
“The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
“The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
“The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’
“The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
“The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”
Prayer
Lord our God,
we consider ourselves your chosen flock,
the people who profess to be your sign of reconciliation.
God, how poor we are! How often we fail you
by forgiving by an act of condescension,
as if we did a great favor
to those who sought to be reconciled with us.
Lord, help us to forgive
the way and to the extent that you forgive us:
unconditionally and totally,
in the goodness of our hearts.
Give us this greatness of heart
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.