Last Sunday we reflected on the Christian community’s uncompromising stand against sin even as we were reminded of our responsibility to be there for one another. On the note that a caring community must be a praying community, we realize next that our readiness to forgive one another is necessary to build community (Matthew 18:21-35).
Seven times?
Hearing Jesus speak about the need of His disciples to be each other’s keepers as they live as community, Peter asks in connection with the incidence of sin in their midst how many times must he forgive his brother who sins against him? In answering his own question with the possibility of forgiving an erring brother up to seven times, Peter is actually being magnanimous because he is ready to forgive repeatedly. It is not a triple that he thought seven as a good number signifying fullness and completeness.
We Filipinos traditionally count up to only three when someone is doing something reprehensible. It is as if we are afraid to be interpreted as weak and unreasonable, if we go beyond three in our patience with others. Or we might be considered konsintidor (abettor) of the offender, if we are more forgiving. We set a limit to our compassion and mercy, lest we be abused. We seem easily determined by what others might think or do.
Seventy-seven times!
The reply of Jesus to Peter clarifies that among believers in God forgiveness should, indeed, be repeated again and again, in fact, indefinitely and not pegged to a definite number of times. The language is clearly in reference to the boast of Lamech, Cain’s descendant, who claimed that “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold” (Genesis 4:24). This Old Testament story of limitless revenge in blood for a wrong done to one is transformed by Jesus to a limitless mercy and forgiveness in love.
The added parable illustrates exactly this point of unlimited mercy. The official in the story must have been a high officer in the court of a potentate with funds under his control, for him to have been able to abscond with such a huge sum of money: 10,000 talents (or $9,000,000 or almost P500,000,000). The debt owed by the unfaithful servant was simply impossible to repay in the economics of the time. Yet the king forgave him completely, when he begged for patience; the kindness of the master was poured without measure upon the unworthy thief. Yet the man turned out to be himself without compassion for another who owed him what in comparison was a measly sum of $15 or a little over P700. Though fully forgiven of his dishonesty and thievery, he was callous and merciless toward another who was also begging for some patience and time in order to pay back his debt, apparently an honest debt. He was unable to recognize and respond to the same words and petition that he himself employed to beg for mercy from his master now that they were used to him by a fellow servant.
Alálaong bagá, although we do not deserve it, we are forgiven by God totally and completely. However enormous our debts to God may be, His mercy is to all who call upon Him. It is beyond our capacity to repay the Almighty, yet He writes off everything upon our prayer for mercy. What we need is compassion for one another in imitation of our all compassionate God, as we try to live together in community or as a people by no means immune from sin and the many evils we are all prone to. Exacting justice by pound of flesh upon pound of flesh only leads to self-destruction until all be defleshed. Forgiving from the heart, as demanded by Jesus of his disciples, not just reacting to what others do, is acting according to our conscience shaped by the divine mercy.
Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.