Catechism Links[1]
CCC 218-221: God is love
CCC 294: God manifests his glory by sharing his goodness
CCC 2838-2845: “Forgive us our trespasses”
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| “Crucifixion” by Sir Anthony van Dyck, c. 1622 |
Commentary:
Commentary on Sir 27:30-28:7
The son of Sirach makes a remarkable statement. He points out that to withhold forgiveness is sinful. He tells us that by embracing our anger at another who may have harmed us, by seeking vengeance on that person, we will suffer God’s anger and fall into sin ourselves. He goes on to exhort the faithful to forgive injustice, and in doing so, God will forgive the sins you have committed.
The prophet reminds his readers in what almost becomes a commentary on the sixth petition of the Lord’s prayer, that they must look to the final judgment and forgive those who have harmed them. By showing mercy, mercy will be shown to them by the judge of all things. He reminds us to look to the commandments and “…hate not your neighbor.”
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. (8) The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
Commentary on Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Psalm 103 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Remembering God’s promise of mercy for the innocent, the psalmist praises God for his compassion and gives thanks for his salvation. It is not by human merit that God judges, but out of compassion and mercy.
CCC: Ps 103 304
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Commentary on Rom 14:7-9
Two of St. Paul’s themes are tied together in this short passage from his letter to the Romans. By stating that those who profess faith in Jesus accept his adoption – life is no longer separate from God, but one in the Lord through this adoption (see also Romans 6:3ff). The second theme is the salvation brought about by the resurrection. In the resurrection, Christ defeated death and all of the souls previously dead in sin because of Adam, were now freed through Jesus’ sacrifice. He became the Lord of the living and the dead.
CCC: Rom 12-15 1454, 1971; Rom 14 1971; Rom 14:7 953; Rom 14:9 668
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Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Commentary on Mt 18:21-35
This passage begins with the discourse on “Forgiveness.” Peter asks the question that paraphrases one asked in the book of Genesis by Lamech (Genesis 4:24). He is looking for guidance in the form of a finite amount of forgiveness, and in answer receives the command that forgiveness must be infinite (represented by the multiples of seven and ten).
To emphasize this need for forgiveness, the Lord launches into the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. The moral of this particular parable is the measure we use to judge others is the same measure that will be used by God to measure us, when we come before him. “The model is the forgiveness of God, which knows no limit; and neither should man's forgiveness. If man does not forgive, he cannot expect forgiveness; if he does not renounce his own claims, which are small, he cannot ask God to dismiss the claims against him.”[5]
CCC: Mt 18:21-22 982, 2227, 2845; Mt 18:23-35 2843
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Reflection:
Sacred scripture from St. Matthew and Sirach provides a compelling theme of forgiveness, one of the features of Christ’s teaching that differentiates Christianity from other belief structures. There is a strong support in the readings for the Church’s dogma on Purgatory as well. This is especially evident in the last verse (Matthew 18:35): “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 your brother from your heart.”
The forgiveness the Lord is talking about is more than just saying: “I’m sorry.” We use as an example the story of a large family. There were seven brothers and sisters at the time the father of this family passed away (his wife having predeceased him). The oldest of the children was named executor and was responsible for the settlement of the estate (and it was a very modest estate – a small house with its contents and a few thousand dollars in cash). There were accusations made about the disposition of the estate and feelings were hurt. It resulted in the family splitting into factions, four against three, both sides saying terrible things about the other. The resulting rift spawned years of spite that found its way into some of the children of these once loving siblings, who carried on the rhetoric. The petty hatreds festered over the paltry assets of a father who would have corrected them. This lack of forgiveness will undoubtedly cost them a long stay in that land of purification. Even in later life, when some words of reconciliation were said, forgiveness from the heart was not there. Like two prizefighters shaking hands before a bout, the handshake does not mean they are friends.
“…unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” What exactly is: “from your heart”? Does that mean the same as loving your brother? Ironically, the lack of forgiveness that will end us up in the hands of the torturers will likely come because of someone we know well, possibly even family. It is the people we love and trust that can earn our hatred most deeply. Over and over, families are torn apart because of actions that will not be forgiven. Violations of trust can only occur when there is trust there to begin with and trust is expected.
Face it, when someone you don’t know wrongs you, say they steal something from you, it is much easier to forgive them than if that person was a person you loved and trusted. In that instance you feel not only the loss of that which was stolen, but the loss of trust that went with your feelings toward that person. In those circumstances it takes a special effort to forgive “from the heart.”
It is, therefore, critical for us that, unless we don’t care where we end up and for how long, we look at these situations and make our best effort at forgiveness. In situations where family and friends are involved, not only will the act of forgiveness save you from anguish in the next life, but it will bring you peace in this one. It is this peace of Christ we all yearn for and it is our great hope to be with him in the age to come.
Pax
In other years on this date: Optional Memorial for Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] The Picture is “Crucifixion” by Sir Anthony van Dyck, c. 1622
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] See Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 43; 127
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