XXIV Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 2020 Forgiveness: Don’t count, but be merciful Readings: Sirach 27:30 – 28:7 / Psalm 103 / Romans 14: 7-9 / Matthew 18: 21-35
One thing about research and university studies, as students know by experience, is the tendency towards data, to quantify everything. Everything in business, universities, all of society seems to be quantifiable; everything must be counted and converted into data.
Is there anything that can defy such a tendency? There are some gifts that elude any attempt to be measured or quantified. Perhaps you have already guessed, but what I have in mind are mercy and forgiveness. Why is that important? Well, once we start quantifying things, we begin to think in terms of limits and conditions and, as we hear Jesus teach in today’s Gospel reading, such is incompatible with forgiveness.
God’s mercy is eternal, but ours tends to be rather finite. “I don’t think I have it in me to forgive. It’s too difficult for me to do.” I have heard, read and perceived that sentiment more than a few times over the years. I have thought it as well.
It might appear that such a thought indicates that there is no way forward. However, from God’s perspective, such an admission of uncertainty and, even, helplessness can be the possibility of a new beginning allowing grace to flow and goodness to overcome evil.
Forgiving one who has offended or hurt us is one of the most difficult aspects of living out our Christian faith; it is also the primary way of doing so. The situation is made difficult if we consider forgiving others as yet another obligation on a moral “to-do” list when in truth it is a matter of us carrying out God’s will.
Several lights of hope can be perceived here. For example, when Christ calls us to follow him and to forgive others, he always provides us the resources and strength to be faithful. One of my former seminary professors, Dr. Ann Garrido writes, “Forgiveness is not something we can perform on demand out of our own store of goodwill but only out of God’s abundance.”¹
We must ask for the grace of forgiveness and many throughout our history have shown us the way. Garrido highlights Jesus on the cross as well as St. Stephen, the first martyr of our faith, as giving example of how in forgiving, we must, in her words, “Place things back in the hands of God,”² and put ourselves at the service of his mercy. My former teacher adds caution here by reminding us that “God is not stingy” and when we ask for something he likes to give, such as mercy, we need to be prepared to receive and give with generous hearts.³
God not only provides us the resources, he sets the process in motion, giving us strength if we but ask for it and providing more than enough opportunities to show forgiveness. Mercy never sleeps; God is always giving. We might be tempted to make excuses, but the Lord’s graces never stop flowing. As the parable makes clear, the king forgives first and the forgiven servant is called to be merciful and act likewise with those who owe him. When it comes to forgiveness, God is the source; he takes the initiative.
While withholding mercy to one in need appears to be the wicked servant’s greatest wrong, it is important to note that he also sins by not accepting the king’s forgiveness as a gift of mercy, but as his own good luck or fortune. His heart hardens towards God and his neighbor in need.
Christ proposes a new way: the “dynamic” of mercy, the movement of forgiveness and grace. God gives, God forgives; we are given so that we may give. God initiates the process; we are included in it because of grace and our own need and from there called to recognize the needs of others. This “dynamic” is inclusive in the best sense of the term: Out of love God generously forgives us, out of his trust he includes us.
Even though his intentions are probably good, Peter seeks to quantify forgiveness and, in effect, impose limits. Jesus has other ideas. He calls us to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). In other words, forgiving is not about counting but being. It is a state of being, thinking and acting; it is a way that is within our grasp because God gives it to us.
Are we capable of forgiving? Christ Jesus says, “yes,” and without any doubts. The true question is, are you, am I, are we willing to forgive in serious, painful matters as well as the everyday situations that make up the majority of our lives? Dr. Garrido brings things into focus when she writes, “In daily life, the gift of forgiveness is often less associated with particular events and more associated with the development of an attitude – a way of being in relationship that doesn’t look for offense and doesn’t cling to hurts.”⁴
In matters great and small, the response is the same: no counting, no conditions, no grudges, just be merciful. An attitude, a way of living.
When Christ calls us to a certain way and standard, he provides the help we need to reach it. When he asks us to give something, he makes sure we have first been given it. Remember the Lord’s mercy, savor the sweetness: forgiveness of our sins, just because he loves us; forgiveness we must give. Now is the time to forgive, now is the time to be free.
Peace be with you! Fr. Charles Johnson, O.P.
Notes: ¹ Ann M. Garrido, Redeeming Conflict (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2016), 162. ² Ibid. ³ Ibid.,163. ⁴ Ibid., 164.