Reflection for September 17, 2023

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

​Sirach 27:30—28:7 | Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 | Romans 14:7-9 | Matthew 18:21-35

​Today’s readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time raise a question, “Do we forgive first, so that God has to forgive us?” or “Does God forgive us first in order to empower us to forgive others?” Whatever the answer, it’s all about love.

​Two little brothers, Tristan and Rome, had finished supper and were playing until bedtime. Somehow, Tristan hit Rome with a stick, and tears and bitter words followed. Charges and accusations were still being exchanged as their mother prepared them for bed. She said, “Now boys, what would happen if either of you died tonight and you never had the opportunity again for forgive one another?” Rome spoke up, “Well, Okay, I’ll forgive him tonight, but if we’re both alive in the morning, he’d better look out.” 

How often do we hold onto our grudges and choose not to forgive? Sirach prophetically teaches, “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet a sinner holds on to them tight” (27:30). What does this mean? Am I not right to be angry at one who wrongs me? Am I not supposed be angry at the chronic corruption, blatant injustice and gross rights violations of our leaders? Anger is a natural and necessary emotion. It’s not a sin to be angry. It’s what you do with your anger that counts. The problem here, according to the author of the book of Sirach, is our special liking for revenge. The author of the first reading teaches that human beings who hold on to the violence of revenge, who refuse to give mercy, cannot receive God. Even when we are rightfully angry, our grievance must not overwhelm our respect for others. Simply put, if you have become a victim, please do not victimize another. Do not try to heal yourself by inflicting harm on others. 

Russell, 10 year-old boy, entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. Nida, a waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is a cookies and cream sundae?” Russell asked. “₱40.00,” replied the waitress. Russell pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins he had. “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream sundae?” he inquired. By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing very impatient. “₱30.00,” she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. Nida brought the plain ice cream sundae, put the bill on the table and walked away. Russell finished the ice cream sundae, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish was ₱70.00. You see, he couldn’t have the cookies and cream sundae because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.

In our second reading, the apostle Paul discusses about the relation between the Gentile Christians who were liberal in their attitude toward the law and Jewish Christians who were very strict about legal observances. In the second reading Paul makes this point clear when he writes to the church in Rome and tells them “none of us lives for oneself, and no one of us dies for oneself.” We, like Christ, are to be motivated by love and to live and die for someone else. We are to live for the Lord and to die for the Lord. Our motivation in all thoughts, words and actions must be love. Saint Paul warns us that love is not always receiving but instead about giving. Love is all about the other person, being willing to lay down our lives for our neighbor. Saint Teresa of Calcutta hits the nail on the head when she said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Two sisters, Czarina and Denise, went to Father Luis, their parish priest to settle a longstanding disagreement. Fr Luis got the two to reconcile their differences and shake hands. As they were about to leave, he asked each one to make a wish for the other in honor of the New Year 2021. Czarina turned to the other and said, "I wish you what you wish me." At that, Denise threw up her hands and said, "See, Father, she's starting up again!"

In the Gospel parable about “a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants,” the king represents God. In dealing with a servant who was deeply in debt to him, he was moved with compassion, let the servant go and forgave him the loan. When that same servant dealt with another servant who owed him a much smaller amount, he refused to forgive him. The king condemned the first servant saying, “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” Note the motivation for forgiveness, compassion and pity not self-interest. The king gives an example of the Law of Love in action, and he expects us to follow his example. To enter into the mystery of God is to allow love to be our moral motivation. We say the Lord’s Prayer too fast without realizing the gravity of what we ask for. We ask God to forgive us as we forgive others. If we hold onto grudges and withhold mercy, we are asking God to withhold mercy from us. Yes, this is what we ask for. Forgive us as quickly as we forgive someone who owes us money and is refusing to pay. Forgive us as quickly as we forgive the driver chatting on a cell phone who cut us off on the highway. Forgive us as eagerly as we forgive the family member whose political views we simply cannot bear. Forgive us as fully as we forgive the one who owes us an apology and is unwilling or unable to give us what they owe. Forgiveness is letting go of your right to be right. It means offering up your anger and letting go of your desire to retaliate or revenge - leaving justice to God. Perhaps, we race through that prayer because we understand what we are asking for. Next time we call upon the Father, may our prayer be that we forgive as God has forgiven us, quickly, graciously, over and over again.

Thank you, Merciful Father, for forgiving me "seventy times seven" and more. You are always so good to me, but I can be so hard-hearted with those who offend me. I pray for those who have caused me hurt and, even if I can't wish them well now, I pray that one day I might. Have mercy on me and change my heart so that as I receive your love and forgiveness always, may I also extend it to others in your name. Amen. 

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