but seventy-seven times. This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided
to settle accounts with his servants. Among the first of them was one who owed him ten
thousand pieces of gold. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he
be sold as a slave with his wife, his children and all his goods, as repayment. The servant
threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back
everything.’ The king took pity on him, and not only set him free, but even canceled
his debt. When this servant left the king’s presence, he met one of his fellow servants, who
owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the throat and almost choked him,
shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged
him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’ But the other did not agree, and sent him to
prison until he had paid all his debt. Now the servants of the king saw what had happened.
They were extremely upset, and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then
the lord summoned his servant and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed
me when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’ The lord was now angry. He handed the wicked servant over to be
punished, until he had paid the whole debt.” Jesus added, “So will my heavenly Father
do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.”

Reflect

“Mercy and compassion.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus narrated the parable of the unforgiving
servant. The telling of this parable by Jesus appears to be framed by Jesus’ conversation
with his disciples. The opening frame tells of Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question as to how
often Peter must forgive his brother who sinned against him. The answer of Jesus is
seventy-seven times, which is akin to as often as possible. In the closing frame, Jesus
reminds the disciples that unless they forgive their brother from their hearts, they will neither
receive forgiveness from the heavenly Father. The parable is framed in the context of familial
relationship. It is in the context of a family that any sin committed becomes a debt or loan.
A debt is debt that must be paid. However, if the debtor has no more capacity to pay, the
debt may also be cancelled. The cancellation of debt is already beyond the capacity of the
one who owed. Hence, its cancellation rests in the hand of the one who lent. It is only
through mercy that any debt may be cancelled. It is only through compassion that
forgiveness is possible. Thus, we truly participate in God’s salvific act whenever we forgive.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2024