Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18:21-35.19:1.
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 his brother from his heart." When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
Reflection:
Jesus is very clear of his response. We shall forgive seventy-seven times. How could we do that? In fact when somebody would commit mistakes against us, we can forgive probably once but when such person commits a sin against us several times, that might be an abuse against our person. Being a Christian, we shall live like Christ. We must take our cross and carry it. That person who commits mistakes against us might be our cross. Being a Christian is really difficult. When we choose to be a Christian and take our crosses, there will be difficulties that will happen in our lives. This is a test from the devil. The devil would always measure our faith to God, our faith to Jesus. However, God will not let us go to the devil's hand. He will always protect, if we choose to be with Him. Remember, God loves us so much. But we should do our part being human. We must hate sin and love God with all our hearts and with all our soul by loving our neighbours as ourselves. We must forgive one another, not only once but seventy-seven times, so that the Father will bless us and bring us into his kingdom.
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