XXIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Sirach 27:30—28:7       

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

Second Reading: 14:7-9                            

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

THE MEASURE OF FORGIVENESS IS TO FORGIVE WITHOUT MEASURE

“How often must I forgive? Seven times?”

By asking this question, Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, seems to limit forgiveness. But Jesus responds by removing every limit: “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

Jesus reveals that we don't count forgiveness. It is not an arithmetic question. Forgiveness is meant to be unlimited, because it is rooted in God's own mercy and love. “Seventy-seven times” does not mean 70 × 7 = 490. Rather, it points to the reversal of the spirit of vengeance that we encounter at the very beginning of the Bible. In the Book of Genesis, violence and revenge become increasingly destructive. Lamech says to his wives, Adah and Zillah:

“Hear my voice, wives of Lamech; listen to what I say: I killed a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

What began with Cain becomes even greater with Lamech: sevenfold vengeance becomes seventy-sevenfold vengeance.

But today's Gospel reverses this logic. Jesus replaces the cycle of violence, anger, resentment, and vengeance with the way of forgiveness. Do not respond to evil with evil. Respond with forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the fruits of love. Through the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus teaches his disciples that forgiveness must be mutual and unlimited. We are called to be merciful toward others because our heavenly Father is merciful toward us.

When we implore God's mercy, God does not reject us. Psalm 130 says:

“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you is forgiveness.”

And every day, in the Our Father, we pray: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Think about those words for a moment. We ask God to forgive us as we forgive others.

Forgiveness is like a bridge that allows us to cross from separation to reconciliation, from resentment to peace, and from brokenness to healing. We need that bridge to encounter God and to reencounter our brothers and sisters.

If we destroy the bridge of forgiveness, we isolate ourselves.

Forgiveness is a hyphen that connects brothers and sisters, neighbors, families, generations, and even cultures. It brings together what anger and resentment try to separate.

Pardon is neither easy nor impossible. Forgiveness is like a beautiful flower that we must protect from the thorns and weeds of resentment, pride, arrogance, and anger. It requires God's grace, humility, and sometimes a long process of healing.

That is why the measure of forgiveness is to forgive without measure.

Forgiveness is a fruit of love.

It is consolation.

It is the antidote to vengeance.

It is a remedy for broken relationships.

It liberates us from the burden of resentment.

It comforts us, revitalizes us, and restores our humanity.

When we forgive, we do not lose. On the contrary, we become freer.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is our greatest model of forgiveness. Even while hanging on the Cross, he prayed:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, followed the same path. As he was being stoned, he prayed:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Jesus and Saint Stephen show us that forgiveness is not weakness. Forgiveness is strength. It is the strength that comes from love and from God.

Maybe there is a person with whom you have not spoken for a long time because of anger, resentment, or a wound that has never been healed.

Today, take the first step. Forgive. Or ask for forgiveness. You may not be able to change the past, but with God's grace, you can change what you do with the past. Let us ask the God of mercy to give us the grace to forgive those who have hurt us, the humility to ask forgiveness from those whom we have hurt, and the courage to break the cycle of resentment and vengeance.

May we never forget:

The measure to forgive is to forgive without measure.

Amen.