24th sunday

24th Sunday in ordinary time 

"Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?"

Matthew 18:21

Johnbert and Ronie, both in their seventies, had been friends since their seminary days. They held strong opinions and both were on the stubborn side. Consequently, they argued frequently and, as a result, they often went for weeks without speaking to each other. It got to the point where, after a heated argument on some trivial matter, Johnbert and Ronie hadn't spoken to each other for several months. Then Ronie became critically ill. He summoned Johnbert to his hospital bed and said that he wanted to heal their relationship before he died. He took Johnbert's hand in his and whispered, "Johnbert, I forgive you. Will you forgive me?" Johnbert was deeply moved by his friend's final gesture, but before he could reply, Ronie bellowed, "But remember, if I don't die, if I get well again, this doesn't count!"

When we place conditions on our willingness to forgive, of course, it doesn't count. Limited forgiveness is a contradiction in terms.

Forgiveness counts when it acknowledges that only unconditional love can overcome the evil that divides and separates; that only unconditional love can heal our wounded relationships; that only unconditional love can clear away the debris from the past that continues to estrange us from God and neighbor.

The awesome reality of God's forgiveness is that it always counts. You don't have to plead or beg for it. You don't have to ask Him even once for it. God's love and mercy are always being offered, always present to you, never withdrawn. His forgiveness doesn't depend on whether or not you ask for it. There is nothing you can do to change who God is or God's attitude toward you. Any change that takes place in your relationship with God necessarily takes place in you. Your plea for mercy and forgiveness, therefore, represents your acknowledgment of God's mercy and your acceptance of His forgiveness.

An Irish humorist tells the story of a mean, intemperate selfish, unbelieving man named Pat, who died. At the wake, the pastor of the Church Pat's family attended took on the tough task of eulogizing Pat. Having done the best he could, the priest asked if anyone would like to add a word or two. After a brief silence, a voice from the rear of the funeral parlor said, "His brother was worse!"

That is a story to remember when you get to wondering about the limits of God's mercy. God not only loved that miserable Pat, He even loved Pat's brother!

A mature Christian Faith means more than accepting the reality of the higher order of Being we call "God." To say "I believe in God" in a mature Christian way means to say, "I trust God and I will live according to His Rule. God's Will be done!

In today's Gospel, for example, Jesus reveals God's Will for your life and mine in the matter of forgiveness. This is Jesus' way of saying that no limit whatsoever is to be placed on our need to practice mercy and forgiveness. The Kingdom of God, Jesus explains to Peter, is built on a foundation of endless mercy and forgiveness.

Our knowledge of God is but a mere human glimpse. No one can fully understand the creative process of love and mercy and forgiveness. It all comes down to a matter of trust. God comes to us in Person in the Lord Jesus asking us to trust Him; telling us that in order to grow into the uniquely beautiful, fulfilled persons He wants us to become, we must learn to forgive the brother or sister who has wronged us, unconditionally.

 

In order to position yourself under God's Rule. "Trust Me," God is saying. "Trust Me with your life. It will not always be easy.

We acknowledge our sinfulness, Lord . . .

Forgive our self-righteousness;

Forgive our self-centeredness;

Forgive our half-hearted efforts to understand the problems of others;

Forgive us for all those times when we were "too busy to listen";

Forgive our unkindness to other human beings;

Forgive us for using and exploiting other human beings;

Forgive us for failing to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel effectively, both in word and deed;

Forgive us for our disobedience to your command to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world;

"Why do you keep talking about my past mistakes?" said the husband. "I thought you had forgiven and forgotten." "I have, indeed, forgiven and forgotten," said the wife. "But I want to make sure you don't forget that I have forgiven and forgotten."

Sinner: "Remember not my sins, O Lord!"

LORD: "What sins? I forgot them long ago."