From: Matthew 18:21-19:1
Forgiveness of Injuries. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
[21] Then Peter came up and said to Him (Jesus), “Lord, how often shall my bro-
ther sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus
said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
[23] “Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished
to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began the reckoning, one was
brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; [25] 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. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord,
have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him
the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
[28] But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what
you owe.’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience
with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] He refused and went and put him in prison till he
should pay his debt. [31] 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. [32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked ser-
vant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; [33] and should not
you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in
anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. [35] So
also My Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your
brother from your heart.”
[19:1] Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and
entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan[.]
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Commentary:
21-35. Peter’s question and particularly Jesus’ reply prescribe the spirit of under-
standing and mercy which should govern Christians’ behavior.
In Hebrew the figure of seventy times seven means the same as “always” (cf.
Genesis 4:24): “Therefore, our Lord did not limit forgiveness to a fixed number,
but declared that it must be continuous and forever” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on St
Matthew”, 6). Here also we can see the contrast between man’s ungenerous,
calculating approach to forgiveness, and God’s infinite mercy. The parable also
clearly shows that we are totally in God’s debt. A talent was the equivalent of six
thousand denarii, and a denarius a working man’s daily wage. Ten thousand ta-
lents, an enormous sum, gives us an idea of the immense value attaching to the
pardon we receive from God. Overall, the parable teaches that we must always
forgive our brothers, and must do so wholeheartedly.
“Force yourself, if necessary, always to forgive those who offend you, from the
very first moment. For the greatest injury or offense that you can suffer from them
is nothing compared to what God has pardoned you” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”,
452).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.
| First reading |
Ezekiel 12:1-12 © |
| The oracle of exile against the whole House of Israel |
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, you are living with that set of rebels who have eyes and never see, ears and never hear, for they are a set of rebels. You, son of man, pack an exile’s bundle and emigrate by daylight when they can see you, emigrate from where you are to somewhere else while they watch. Perhaps they will admit then that they are a set of rebels. You will pack your baggage like an exile’s bundle, by daylight, for them to see, and leave like an exile in the evening, making sure that they are looking. As they watch, make a hole in the wall, and go out through it. As they watch, you will shoulder your pack and go out into the dark; you will cover your face so that you cannot see the country, since I have made you a symbol for the House of Israel.’
I did as I had been told. I packed my baggage like an exile’s bundle, by daylight; and in the evening I made a hole through the wall with my hand. I went out into the dark and shouldered my pack as they watched.
The next morning the word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, did not the House of Israel, did not that set of rebels, ask you what you were doing? Say, “The Lord says this: This oracle is directed against Jerusalem and the whole House of Israel wherever they are living.” Say, “I am a symbol for you; the thing I have done will be done to them; they will go into exile, into banishment.” Their ruler will shoulder his pack in the dark and go out through the wall; a hole will be made to let him out; he will cover his face rather than see the country.’
| Responsorial Psalm |
| Psalm 77(78):56-59,61-62 © |
Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
They put God to the proof and defied him;
they refused to obey the Most High.
They strayed, as faithless as their fathers,
like a bow on which the archer cannot count.
Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
With their mountain shrines they angered him;
made him jealous with the idols they served.
God saw this and was filled with fury:
he utterly rejected Israel.
Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
He gave his ark into captivity,
his glorious ark into the hands of the foe.
He gave up his people to the sword,
in his anger against his chosen ones.
Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
| Gospel Acclamation |
Ps118:88 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Because of your love give me life,
and I will do your will.
Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your decrees.
Alleluia!
| Gospel |
| Matthew 18:21-19:1 © |
| 'How often must I forgive my brother?' |
Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’
Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and he left Galilee and came into the part of Judaea which is on the far side of the Jordan.