This Week’s Gospel Reflection
Scripture
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Reflection
When I consider the story of the unforgiving servant, I am especially grateful for the pastors in my life who did the exchange rates for me and pointed out that the king is forgiving a lifetime’s worth of income, and the forgiven servant is refusing to forgive a few bucks. I consider this and bow in worship to the One who paid the ultimate debt I could never pay back, and I also reflect more deeply to examine my heart for places I am not offering forgiveness. Where am I refusing to forgive a few bucks of debt when I have been forgiven for a lifetime? And more importantly, why am I withholding forgiveness?
“Why can’t I just let it go?” I often wonder when someone’s slight against me is still stinging when I should be over it by now. Most often I find myself unable to forgive because the offense has made me question my identity. When a comment or action makes me question if I am actually kind, or accepting, or patient like I thought I was, I’ll find a way to make myself the wronged party and forgo reconciliation in favor of my own righteous indignation. Here is where I must stop and remember, God has offered complete forgiveness in Christ. When I decide I need to protect my own perceived self-worth by withholding forgiveness, I am saying I’d rather stand on my own righteousness than God’s. I still remember a sermon in 2012 from Thomas Richie at Redeemer Community Church where he said, “Part of accepting the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ is giving up any claim to your own righteousness.”
This is not to say I should allow myself to be a pushover and never hold others accountable. It is to say that on the path to reconciliation, I need to remember all I’ve already been forgiven for and stand on God’s righteousness, not my own. Offering, and sometimes accepting, forgiveness can be painful. But it also brings growth and freedom. When it is simple things like side comments or feeling left out, I remind myself to assume good intentions. When it’s bigger than that, I ask for discernment and seek a way to let it go by remembering my value in Christ.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for forgiving me a lifetime’s worth of debt so I can stand at your feet and be welcomed into your house forever. I confess I am refusing to forgive. I hold grudges and assume bad intentions. Help me to turn my eyes toward you and remember you alone have made me righteous only through Christ. Please bring a spirit of reconciliation to our personal relationships, our departments, schools, colleges, university, community, and world. Give us a spirit of humility that first acknowledges that we have been forgiven, so we should also extend forgiveness. Remind us that you alone will judge in the final days, so we can take the weight of these burdens off ourselves and hand them to you. Amen.
