Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Josua
3:7-10a.13-17; Matthew 18:29-19:1)
If love is
at the heart of Jesus’ teaching, then forgiveness is at the core of love. Over and over Jesus tells his disciples to
forgive. In today’s gospel he
underscores the need to forgive with a parable.
Forgiveness
is central to Christianity because Jesus gained the Father’s forgiveness of
human sin. As God has forgiven the sins
of humans, they should in turn forgive the sins of one another. Forgiveness, it must be added, is no slight
matter as if it should be dispensed like paper napkins. Both debtors in the parable acknowledge their
debt and plea for mercy.
If the
sinner does not express contriteness and a willingness to reform, forgiveness is
not required. What should we do then, if
the person who offends us remains uncontrite? Love admonishes us to pray. We pray that the offender duly repents and
also that our assessment of the wrong is on target.
