Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 18:21-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Verse 22Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. Verse 23"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. Verse 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; Verse 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. Verse 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' Verse 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. Verse 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Verse 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' Verse 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. Verse 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Verse 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Verse 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' Verse 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. Verse 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Devotion
As I write this I am coming off walking through tragedy with a family. It began Saturday when they took their 23-month-old daughter into urgent care for an ear infection. It ended Sunday with turning off her life support after she had succumbed to acute leukemia. The whole drama transpired in less than 48 hours. While it was difficult for me as a pastor, I cannot comprehend the magnitude of this family’s anguish.
Today’s text is often applied to forgiving one’s neighbor for innocuous peccadilloes. But for this little girl’s parents, reconciliation is about faith and the renewal of life itself. Jesus tells Peter that forgiveness seven times is not nearly enough. Instead, forgiveness may be more like water incessantly dripping on a rock, slowly eroding it until it finally gives way.
I trust that reconciliation will take place for these parents. But it will be through an incessant God working through the care and compassion of family, friends and the faith community. And it will be slow.
Prayer
O God, it has been said that we cannot begin to conceive of the appalling strangeness of your mercy. When the incongruities of life do not easily fit into our perception of how it should be, help us to see that you are still present and active, longing to see joy in our lives. Amen.