MATHEW 18:21-35
At that time : Peter came up and said to Jesus, "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 denarii; and he seizing him by the throat he said 'pay me what u owe '."so his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with 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 pleaded with me; and should you not have 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. "
REFLECTION...
Peter thought he was being generous, magnanimous.he would be prepared to forgive his brother up to seven times. The reply he got from Jesus was 'seventy times seven' . In effect it meant indefinitely. There was to be no limit for forgiveness, just as there is no limit to God's forgiveness of our offenses. We are hugely in debt To God on account of our sins, and always in need of his forgiveness. That was the case with the Israelites ,as Azariah confessed in prayer (Daniel 3-2,11-20) . Insofar as we need God to forgive us, we should never withhold forgiveness from our neighbour or from anyone for that matter, if he or she offends us.
Forgiveness is above all personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil.
-Pope John Paul ii
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