He Forgives Our Debts
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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 the fellow servant 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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Our Mass readings are taken from an English language translation of the scriptures called the New American Bible. At times in this translation, the scholars translating it have chosen to not translate into English the exact words written, but instead the meaning of the words. That is what was done here, and unfortunately in this case, some of the impact is lost. The first servant, who is in debt to the king, is said to owe the king a “huge amount”, while a fellow servant is said to owe the first servant, a “much smaller amount”. The more word-for-word translation would say that the first servant owes the king, “ten thousand talents”. Well, one single talent was worth roughly sixteen years’ worth of wages for labor… and this man owed the king that amount times ten thousand! The amount would be huge, in the billions of dollars. The point is, his debt simply could not be paid back. Also, a more word-for-word translation shows this first servant was owed by his fellow servant only “a hundred denarii”. A denarius was worth one day’s worth of wages for labor. The amount is incomparably smaller!
Jesus uses this parable to show us that, because of our sin, we have a debt to God that we simply cannot pay back. Yet, in His great mercy, He forgives our debt, our entire life of immense sin. It would then be inexcusable, despicable, pathetic, if we refused to forgive another who has done much less to us. How can we seek immense mercy for ourselves, if we aren’t willing to show a little mercy for others? Perhaps before looking at what they have done wrong in one instance, we must look at what we have done wrong in thousands of instances. During this decade, let’s examine our consciences, and ask for true contrition for our sins.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
