Tuesday of the Third
Week in Lent
(Daniel 3:25.34-43; Matthew 18:21-35)
There is a problem in Jesus’ parable. If one is to forgive continually, then what
should the master do when the wicked servant asks forgiveness a second time? Should he not pardon him?
We can bet that Jesus would say “no” to the proposition. Forgiveness turns on the genuineness of the guilty
party’s contrition. The servant shows
that his sorrow is a sham since he refuses to show mercy. In traditional terms,
he lacks a purpose of amendment.
We sometimes worry about the sincerity of our own intentions
when we find ourselves always confessing the same sins. Does God forgive us? We must never underestimate God’s mercy. It is deeper than the ocean. But God is also that discerning as well. He knows when we intend to change our
ways. But He also knows that bad habits
are difficult to break and affords us many opportunities to make amendment.
