Opening Prayer:
Loving God,
open our ears to hear your word
and draw us closer to you,
that the whole world may be one with you
as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Matthew 18:21-35 Forgiveness is central to living the Jesus way: “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” we pray in the Lord’s Prayer. Why do you think God places such a high premium on forgiveness?
The Sunday Gospel is a harsh parable that plays out in three parts:
- A king decides to “settle accounts with his slaves” and one of them owes “ten thousand talents” (which is about $1 billion today!) .…and of course he cannot pay it so he begs for forgiveness and receives it (nice king to forgive $1 billion debt!)
- The slave then demands payment of a “100 denarii” (which is about 3 months wages or maybe $10,000 today) from a fellow slave, and when forgiveness is sought, refuses to grant it.
- When the king hears about this, he takes back his forgiveness and has the first slave tortured.
Whew, a pretty brutal story; but one full of Good News as well! We learn the abundance of God’s love and forgiveness for us with God as King forgiving 100,000 times more than we can forgive on earth ($1 billion divided by $10,000). The Good News is how God loves us so much that he will forgive any sin, however grievous. It is crazy to live in a way contrary to God’s love and mercy, and we are to show forgiveness to others as part of God’s love.
Romans 14:1-12 Paul reminds us that it is God’s prerogative to judge each of us at the end of time. Why is it so imperative that we not be judgmental in the Christian life?
Paul writes about two kinds of Jesus followers: those who are “weak in faith” and concern themselves with details and special practices and miss the most important thing, the Good News; and the strong who concentrate on God’s purpose, to bring the Good News of salvation to our broken world. As Christians, we are reminded not to become “self-righteous” and view ourselves as better than other people because we practice things like eating only vegetables (v.2), fasting (v5-6) or abstain from wine (v.21). We are not to “pass judgment” on others, as we are all both sinners and saints. Rather, we are to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (v.19)
Closing Prayer:
O God, your forgiveness transcends
whatever wrong exists between us.
Grant us the courage to forgive others,
and to practice reconciliation
by the kindness of our speaking,
and the honoring of your desire for good. Amen.