Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 5, 2024

Date:   Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  Matthew 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.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today is taken from the Gospel of Matthew and recounts Jesus’ reply to Peter upon begin asked about forgiveness. Specifically, Peter inquired about the number of times one must forgive another. Jesus’ initial response elevates and enlarges Peter’s understanding of forgiveness, putting the number at an almost unreachable limit (nearly 500 times) and helping Peter to recognize that the LORD’s expectation is that we exercise mercy and forgiveness always.

Jesus then tells a parable about forgiveness and mercy which harkens us back to the words of the “Our Father” that Jesus taught the disciples and the crowd on the mount. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others.” The parable is about one who is shown mercy but then withholds mercy for another. As punishment for the lack of mercy shown another, the individual’s debt is not only re-established but his punishment is intensified.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How forgiving am I truly?  

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Host Spirit, your unfathomable loving mercy endures forever. Open our minds and hearts so that your mercy transforms us into compassionate and merciful individuals, slow to anger and full of love for one another, sisters and brothers in the family of the LORD. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.