Gospel: March 5, 2024
March 5, 2024 (Tuesday)
3rd Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25: 4-5ab, 6, 7bc, 8, 9
Remember your mercies, O Lord.
1st Reading: Daniel 3: 25, 34-43
Gospel: Matthew 18: 21-35
Then Peter asked him, “Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “No, not seven times, but 77 times.
This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. Among the first of them was one who owed him 10,000 pieces of gold. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, his children and all his goods, as repayment.
The servant threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’ The king took pity on him, and not only set him free, but even canceled his debt.
When this servant left the king’s presence, he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the throat and almost choked him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’ But the other did not agree, and sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.
Now the servants of the king saw what had happened. They were extremely upset, and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his servant and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ The lord was now angry. He handed the wicked servant over to be punished, until he had paid the whole debt.”
Jesus added, “So will my heavenly Father do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.”
Reflection: “Mercy and compassion”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus narrated the parable of the unforgiving servant. The telling of this parable by Jesus appears to be framed by Jesus’ conversation with his disciples. The opening frame tells of Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question as to how often Peter must forgive his brother who sinned against him. The answer of Jesus is 77 times, which is akin to as often as possible. In the closing frame, Jesus reminds the disciples that unless they forgive their brother from their hearts, they will neither receive forgiveness from the heavenly Father. The parable is framed in the context of familial relationship. It is in the context of a family that any sin committed becomes a debt or loan. A debt is debt that must be paid. However, if the debtor has no more capacity to pay, the debt may also be canceled. The cancellation of debt is already beyond the capacity of the one who owed. Hence, its cancellation rests in the hand of the one who lent. It is only through mercy that any debt may be canceled. It is only through compassion that forgiveness is possible. Thus, we truly participate in God’s salvific act whenever we forgive.
