Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, 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 slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’ When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

My first reading of this Gospel led me to think about those who have sinned against me, the people I find difficult to forgive. But as I sat with the passage longer, I felt God gently turn my gaze away from others and back towards Himself. Instead of focusing on the debts owed to me, I began to notice the debt I owe to Him.

The parable speaks of a servant whose debt is so enormous that there is no possible way he could repay it. In many ways, this is the reality of sin. Sin is not simply a mistake or a failure; it is a debt against God, a rupture in our relationship with the One who loves us. Yet it is not the kind of debt that can be settled through our own efforts. And there is no amount of good works, prayers, or service that could ever repay it.

As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “The guilt of sin is a debt that can never simply be written off from the human side; only God himself can cancel it.”

This is the heart of the Gospel. God is the merciful King who does what we cannot. He forgives the unpayable debt. He restores what we have broken. Again and again, He meets our sin with mercy.

Knowing this, how can we withhold mercy from those around us?