How much do you owe?

August 12, 2010
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time.
Matthew 18:21 -19:1

Jesus teaches us a difficult, yet very practical lesson today: Forgive everyone, all the time.

Peter was sounding more than generous when he volunteered to forgive seven times to his erring brother. Seven in the Biblical sense indicated perfection and completion. The seven times of forgiveness would mean then forgiving until you feel perfect enough--until the limit of your patience and generosity. Have I not felt often that i have reached the limits and even gone beyond my strength in bearing with my brother who keeps on insulting me? When the nagging and evil tricks of my brother/sister follow me like my shadow, have I not felt "enough is enough", "I cannot stand the humiliation anymore"? When my generosity, meekness and compassionate attitudes are taken for my weakness, and when my simplicity and my religiosity is made use of an overt instrument of exploitation against me, do I not feel that it is getting into my nerves and I need to prove my strength in retaliation? To what length shall I go in forgiving? More than what my heart can take, more than what my brother/sister deserves? That is the seven times of forgiveness which falls short of the Christian standard.

For Jesus, there is no limit for forgiveness. It is seven-times-seventy. It is perfection upon perfection. Never say enough in forgiving. The boundaries of forgiveness do not depend on the limit of my patience or the response of my offender. Forgive every time as if that were the first time you would forgive.

I forgive not because the offender (my brother) deserves it, but because I myself need greater forgiveness. In the parable of the "unforgiving servant" Jesus calls my attention to the fact that I am a debtor. I owe God so much, much more than what I can pay Him back. I live in the generosity and kindness of God. If I count the times I have offended myself, others and God, I would be at a loss. If I recall how many times I fall on my knees asking God for forgiveness, I realize how great an offender I have become. Yet, God forgives me not counting my offenses, their gravity or frequency. I stand before God with confidence that God understands me, my weaknesses and imperfections; He knows my good intentions and wicked ways. I promise Him I will start over again, and beg Him "be patient with me". And God forgives.

It is this "patience of God" towards me that demands of me to be patient with others. Yes, I forgive because I owe Him much!

“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love.
In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”
--Robert Muller