March 16, 2004 - Tuesday, 3rd Week of Lent

Forgive Us As We Forgive

Readings:
Dn 3:25, 34-43; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9; Mt 18:21-35

Introduction

We don't like too much - or not at all - to acknowledge it, but we have been forgiven a lot. Open, scandalous, upsetting sins... maybe not. Probably not. But scandalous in the sense of totally unexpected on the part of people who profess to be the sign of the Church, of Christ, of God... perhaps yes: antipathies, non-sharing, animosities, enmities nurtured for years, living side-by-side without genuine love and sharing, maybe yes... and to many or at least some the opposite of witnessing to what we profess to be, yes... Where is our forgiving others as God has forgiven us, as we pray in the Lord's Prayer?

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
we consider ourselves your chosen flock,
the people who profess to be your sign of reconciliation.
God, how poor we are! How often we fail you
by forgiving by an act of condescension,
as if we did a great favor
to those who sought to be reconciled with us.
Lord, help us to forgive
the way and to the extent that you forgive us:
unconditionally and totally,
in the goodness of our hearts.
Give us this greatness of heart
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Dn 3:25, 34-43

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:

"For your name's sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

R (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Gospel Reading: Mt 18:21-35

Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?" Jesus answered, "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

"This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.

"The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.' The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

"This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!' His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.' The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt. His companions saw what happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?' The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt."

Jesus added, "So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister."

Commentary

A very important list to compile: a list of the people I find it hard to forgive. (I must make sure that the list includes myself-often the hardest person to forgive.) Joko Beck wrote, "Failing to grasp the importance of forgiveness is always part of any failing relationship and a factor in our anxieties, depressions, and illnesses-in all our troubles. Our failure to know joy is a direct reflection of our inability to forgive. Non-forgiveness is rooted in our habit of thinking self-centered thoughts. When we believe in such thoughts, they are like a drop of poison in our glass of water."

I've been struck by the fact that the word "give" is part of the word "forgive", not only in English but in several languages. Italian: donare/perdonare; French: donner/pardonner; German: geben/vergeben; Norwegian: gi/tilgi; and probably etc.! To give is to go beyond the care of the self-centered self; to forgive is to do the same, but in a way that is deeper and more personal.

General Intercessions

- That we may be patient with one another, as God has been patient with us, we pray:

- That we may forgive one another, as God has forgiven us, we pray:

- That we may keep loving one another, as God keeps loving us even when we have repeatedly hurt his love, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Merciful Father,
we welcome your Son
in these signs of bread and wine
as the Lord of forgiveness
who laid down his life for us.
May we, whom you call your chosen ones,
beloved and called to be holy,
be found ready to forgive willingly,
notwithstanding antipathies and hurt feelings,
that we may be to one another
the sign of your forgiveness
which goes beyond our human feelings,
as followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, it is beautiful but hard
to be the body of your Son,
the sign of the forgiveness and life
that he brings to the world.
But give us the courage, notwithstanding and beyond
our all too human feelings, sympathies and antipathies,
to bring to all around us
your message of love, tolerance, peace and joy,
which you have given us here again
through the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We are people who have received forgiveness from the Lord, and, hopefully at times also from people. We should know also how to forgive, so that our praying in the Our Father may be truthful. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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