Dear Friend,
In the Gospel this Sunday (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus still continues with the theme of building His Church through forgiveness and reconciliation with one another. Peter wanted to know how often must he forgive a brother who had sinned against him. Please read this Gospel to your family and learn from Jesus how we may participate in building the Church of the Home as a basic unit of the Church, hence, also the Church through forgiveness and reconciliation.
"Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" – This was the question of Peter to Jesus. The teaching Peter got as a Jew was to forgive three times, but he must have suspected that Jesus would be generous enough in forgiving that He would even profess to love an enemy. He was right.
"I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." – This was the answer of Jesus. What does Jesus mean by this? The parable that followed would explain what Jesus meant.
"Moved with compassion, the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan." – The servant owed the master a "huge amount" that even his wife, children and all his properties were to be sold as a payment for the loan.
"Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?" – This was the expectation of the master to that servant. Jesus had earlier taught His disciples to pray, "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12).
In this parable, Jesus cited three personalities – the master representing the Lord, the servant and his fellow servant representing the Church, that is us.
Meditation ~
With whom do I associate myself in the parable of Jesus, the servant who could not forgive or the fellow servant that needs forgiveness?
Do I realize how huge is my debt to the Lord? He has given me my life.
What have I given Him in return?
He knows that I am not capable of repaying Him and equal His magnanimity. It is a Cross for Him but He has forgiven me, provided, that I too must carry my cross and forgive.
"How often must I forgive?" This is a question that I often ask myself. It is truly a cross to forgive.
But sin is all over me and to turn away from sin is a cross. Sin is a block to unity in the family, in the Church. That is why Jesus wanted me to carry my cross and turn away from sin.
What Jesus teaches me is not a mere forgiveness for forgiveness sake but it must lead to reconciliation, as this is the only way that our family to be united, the Church to be united as ONE.
Building the family, building the Church, is building of relationships – relationships based on love.
And love means sacrifice, that of carrying of my cross.
I must be the first to carry my cross.
I must be the first to forgive, to be forgiven.
This is what Jesus want of me to become His disciple.
Whom shall I forgive and reconciled with, that I be forgiven?
Contemplation ~
In contemplation, listen to Jesus say to you:
"I say to you, (forgive) not seven times but seventy-seven times."
Keep repeating to yourself His words of love.
Family Response ~
Support each other in forgiveness and reconciliation to build the Church of the Home -- your family.
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
|