The Unforgiving Servant

BEADS OF JOY 08-11-16

“The Unforgiving Servant”

©2016 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

 Today’s Gospel: Matt 18:21-19:1 (The Unforgiving Servant)

“Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 

But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denari; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, 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 servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.”

Reflection:
One of the most important aspects of being a true follower of Jesus; is being able to forgive others for their wrong-doings against you. That I know is not easy, and it does take a lot of humility and even though society sees it as a weakness at times; it is actually a strength when you truly understand the process of true forgiveness. Mercy is actually the opposite of God’s justice. But mercy works like this; we must be merciful to others in order to receive mercy. Give forgiveness in order to be forgiven; that’s how it works hand in hand. In today’s gospel this servant even though he received mercy and forgiveness, he did not grant the same to his fellow servant who requested the same as he did. And for that this man, the one who received forgiveness -no longer deserved it.

Do you hold any grudges against anyone? Are you requesting forgiveness but you are not willing to forgive? I think today’s gospel is very clear on the fact that we must give in order to receive when it comes to forgiveness and mercy. And most importantly let us not forget that Jesus paid a ransom to set us free from our sin. Through His most precious blood on the Cross we were forgiven of our sins and released from the clutches of satan. We must never forget that.

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.” ~1 Corinthians 7:23

Consider this my dear sisters and brothers. It was Almighty God’s tremendous love for us that set all of us free. Let us not forget the verse of all verses, almost all Christians know. That is how much God loves us; through the blood of His only Son He forgave us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS