We are stewards of forgiveness

When someone does us wrong: when a friend betrayed us, when a family or relative blurt out words which we find off or words we are sensitive to, when community members simply do not share the same principles as we do, when people to whom we expect no less of a perfection fail us we become disillusioned into believing that these erring people in our lives are made and must keep up to our standards and point of view. Dapat pareho tayo ng pananaw. Kung ang nakikita ko sa harap ko ay Lila na bulaklak, dapat ang makita mo rin ay lilang bulaklak. Hindi dilaw, hindi luntian.

Our refusal to forgive others, be it friends, relative and confreres is grounded on the fact that we have a standard as regards relationships. I must dictate the terms on how we must go on with our relationship, and how we must perceive reality. I should be the standard, and if you deviate, you hurt me and you hurt our relationship.

To forgive is our ultimate test of our character around relationships. One may not be given the perfect relationships and situations at all times but when trust is violated and when we felt betrayed, to put things in order and restore the trust once again is an intimate act of our character; and by character I mean the reputation we hold in the eyes of others. Our relationships and how we handle them are the visible signs of our character. Masama ang loob natin sa isang kasama kasi baka sensitive tayo. Marami tayong kagalit kaki Baka mas comfortable tayong nag-iisa. Hindi tayo nagpapatawad kasi hinyaan na nating maghari ang galit sa ating mga puso.

The character of the unforgiving servant is his failure to acknowledge that there is the gift of the cancelation of his debt. He was given freedom. But he was not able to recognize and pass this gift to his fellow servant who owed him.

People will always err because they will have to act around reality according to how they perceive them. To be betrayed and violated by the people we love is part of the test of relationships, and of the purifying of relationships in order to become a perfect match, a perfect union or friendship. Relationships do not match right away. They have to be accustomed and adjusted first. It will always be a painful experience but we are always invited to forgive all the time because forgiveness is always coupled with hope.

Forgiveness is about hoping for the best and not clinging to hatred and bitterness. Hatred is the sickness of the heart, and when a heart is sick, it cannot acknowledge relationships, it cannot acknowledge values, and therefore it cannot forgive. We are judged based on our character. May this character of ours do not grow in hatred and jealousy but in kindness and in mercy towards others. We are forgiven, and so we must become stewards of forgiveness.

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READINGS

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FIRST READING Dn 3:25, 34-43

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:

“For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Jl 2:12-13

Even now says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.

GOSPEL Mt 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”