Ezekiel 12:1-12
Psalm 77(78):56-59,61-62
Matthew 18:21-19:1
FORGIVENESS AND CARING
The Gospel focuses on forgiveness, community, and caring for one another. Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive—suggesting seven times, perhaps because seven symbolized completeness. Jesus responds, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times,” meaning that forgiveness should have no limit.
Jesus illustrates this with the parable of the king and two servants. A servant is forgiven an enormous debt by the king, yet he refuses to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him by another servant. When the king learns of this, he punishes the unforgiving servant. The message is clear: because God has freely and endlessly forgiven us, we are called to extend that same forgiveness to others.
The passage reminds us that living in community, including within the Church, can be difficult and requires patience, mercy, and reconciliation. As people who have received God’s forgiveness, we are called to become a community of forgiveness, caring for one another and building up the Body of Christ.
Fr Joseph Osho