The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 12, 2004
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 12:1-2
Psalm 78:56-59, 61-52
Matthew 18:21--19:1

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“How often must I forgive him?”

Peter is such a good example for all of us because he so exhibits the traits we each show in our own way. Here he asks Jesus “What is the least we can get away with?” How often do we hear the question of how little must I do? For example, one old-school kind of Catholic might ask, “How soon must I arrive and how long must I stay for it to count as Mass attendance?”

In our love of God too many of us tend to be a people of the minimum. How much do I have to pray? How often must I go to Mass? Is it really a sin to miss a holy day of obligation? We can see evidence of this trend in the pattern of the Church to waive so many of these days when they occur on a Saturday or Monday. Epiphany is no longer celebrated on its January 6 date, but on the Sunday closest to that. There is something deeply sad in being a people of the minimum.

Think about it. What did Peter have in mind for the end of the road? Once we have forgiven enough, what do we do then? We forgive up to seven times and then turn around and give the offender a punch in the nose? What is the alternative to forgiving?

As Jesus points out--there is no alternative. We have been forgiven infinitely more than we will every have to forgive while here on Earth. How can I then call on another to pay their debt? Unless I wish to pay my own, I would be wiser to forgive.

The law of forgiveness cannot be compromised. Rather than asking “How much must we forgive?” let us rather say “Thank you, Lord, for your infinite forgiveness.” Let each of us become a mirror of the Father as we practice and learn to forgive. In doing so, we will begin to understand the measure of His love.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:24 AM