Reflection for Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

DN 3:25, 34-43

PS 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9

MT 18:21-35

The central theme of today’s Gospel reading is forgiveness. Peter asks Jesus how often we should forgive one another. Jesus replies “not seven by seventy- seven.” Jesus’s point is that we should forgive countless times. He continues with a parable. The servant owes the master a great debt and so he begs his master to “be patient” with him. The master is moved with compassion for his servant and forgave the debt. How often do we sin against God? How often do we ask for forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation? God forgives the same amount of times we ask for it. Just like the master repaying the servant’s debt, does God forgive our sins. Further in the parable, the same servant who had his debts forgiven does not pardon the debts of another man who owes him. The man in debt also begs the servant to “be patient” with him. However, instead of showing compassion towards the man, he puts him in jail. After just having mercy shown to him, the servant turns around and acts without mercy. In our lives we can easily be guilty of this. God shows us unending love and forgiveness and yet we chose not to forgive someone who has done us harm. Forgiveness is easier said than done. Because of this, it is important to note that the parable mentions more than once to “be patient.” Those is debt recognize that the pardoning of their debt is difficult to oversee, so they beg those they owe to give them time. We must also be patient with those around us who have caused us harm. We are not going to forgive overnight. We must also be patient with ourselves. We can say on the surface that we have forgiven someone, but it takes time and God’s grace to have forgiveness in our hearts. However, as long as we try to forgive as God has forgiven us, we are living the Christian life.

Franki Feinberg is a senior nursing student and campus ministry intern.