Matthew 18:21–19:1
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."
When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for a peaceful resolution between Russian and Georgia.
Asking for mercy. Giving mercy.
In my life, I often find it harder to ask for mercy than to receive mercy. What's more, when I feel that mercy has been given to me, I turn inward and instead of receiving mercy, I become unmerciful with myself.
At any rate, we have to be willing to receive mercy, and in receiving mercy, we can show mercy. I think of all the times I have gone to confession to confess the same sins over and over. The last time I went, the priest who heard my confession reminded me that I have to learn to forgive in my heart.
I'm not so different from the first servant who was forgiven, but that is the beauty of God's grace. Through our own weakness, we can truly turn to Him Who is strong, and through our poverty, we can offer His mercy that we receive.
Take care and God Bless.
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