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HOMILY
Gospel according to Matthew 18: 21-35
One
does not feel satisfied unless a feeling of
resentment is calmed down, an angry person said. As a result, he even
tries to release his anger in a violent way even by killing to attain
satisfaction. But after the act it appears that it is not
satisfaction that is attained, but restlessness. He becomes restless
because he just took someone’s life. He is afraid to face criminal
punishment or retaliation from the family of the victim.
In our Readings
for today, Matthew 18:21-35, we heard the advice for the
faithful to forgive and not to bear hatred with his neighbor,
especially to those who hurt their feelings. According to the author
of the Book of Sirach, wrath and anger are only for sinners. As
faithful we should forgive those who sin against us, we should love
them. This advice also resounds in the Gospel of Jesus in today’s
Reading. Jesus likened God the Father as a merciful king, forgiving
his servant who owes him money. He cancelled his servant’s entire
debt, although the servant’s debt was so huge, equivalent to his
salary for centuries.And,
even if the said servant worked for years still he would not be able
to pay off his entire debt. Because his debt is so great.
God’s compassion
can be contrasted with the heartlessness of the servant who was
pardoned. This servant did not show mercy to a fellow servant who only
owed him 100 denarii - when 100 denarii is equivalent to only a
hundred days work. Because of this when the king heard from the other
servants what the wicked servant did, the compassionate king withdrew
his mercy from that servant.
In that way
Jesus made this comparison as an advice to His disciples. God the
Father, who is merciful, will not forgive us if we do not forgive the
sins of our neighbor. In fact true forgiveness is like a prayer that
mirrors man’s relationship with God, who is full of love and
patience. Forgiveness also has the power to heal. God
gives a chance to correct failures, to build up future and bring back
freshness.
So, as a
faithful we should forgive our neighbors not only a lot of times, but
without ceasing. We should always forgive those who sin against us.
God forgives us if we forgive others.
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