MY daily reflection and prayer:
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
The Third Week of Lent
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall 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 times seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord 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, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till 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 lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till 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.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
IN today’s Gospel Jesus Christ wants us to forgive “not seven times but seventy-seven times”. Truly, it points to the virtue of mercy and forgiveness.
It means that we may not be tired to forgive others. The seventy-seven-times that Jesus speaks about is measured against the Cross, the symbol of his infinite love and forgiveness.
On the Cross, Jesus himself has given us an excellent example when he forgave those crucified him. He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
We may be only able to shake our heads in amazement that the flame of love can burn so brightly in his life. But we must forgive seventy seven times as he did, also for us all.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, while adoring Jesus Christ, we ask him to be able to forgive seventy times seven to those hurt us. We ask him to grant us this virtue.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, grant us your grace that we can imitate your infinite love by forgiving others seventy times seven. We hope in you. Grant us a more forgiving heart now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
