-
September 8, 2020
Deacon Faiva Po’oi
In the first reading, a wise teacher encourages us to be merciful. When we forgive, we reflect the gracious love and merciful character of God. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we belong to Christ. Our lives, as well as our deaths, are for him. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches Peter, his disciples, and all of us that forgiveness of others must be mutual, unending, and from the heart.
A mother once begged Napoleon Bonaparte to pardon her son a serious offense. Napoleon responded, “This is his second offense; justice demands that he be severely punished.” The mother did not give up. “I am not asking for justice,” she said. “I am pleading for mercy.” Napoleon replied, “Your son does not deserve mercy.”
“Sir,” retorted the mother, “if he deserved it, it would not be mercy. I am asking for mercy.” At this, the French general replied, “I will show him mercy.”
This story puts to each of us the question: What keeps us from being more merciful in our thoughts, words, and actions?
In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus reminds you and me that God has forgiven each of us a debt that we could never repay on our own! God’s forgiveness of us knows no limits and is always granted. Anything less in our forgiveness of one another warrants us the same judgment that is rendered to the “wicked servant” in the parable story.
The core of the responsorial psalm is its refrain: “The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion.” This phrase was first spoken, not about God, but by God as a direct revelation to Moses: “This my name – Lord – This is who I am – merciful, gracious, compassionate” (Exodus 34: 5-6). The phrase appears so frequently in the Old Testament that it is sometimes referred to as “the little creed,” a capsule profession of who God is and how God relates to us.
In singing this psalm we profess “the little creed” as our own. We proclaim the nature of God, and we proclaim the nature of our Covenant relationship with one another.
Matthew concludes this Gospel account with the words of Jesus: “My heavenly Father will do the same to you unless each of you forgives your brother or sister from your heart.” Our entire approach to life should be one of reconciliation rather than resentment. When forgiveness flows from our hearts like an artesian well, then you and I have truly become forgiving Christians. Forgiveness is not something that we can achieve on our own. It is only attainable through the grace of God.
Many years ago, the following was found in the clothing of a dead child at Ravensbruck concentration camp: “O Lord, remember not only those of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted upon us; instead please remember all the fruits we have born because of suffering – our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.”
Not a single one of us deserves to be forgiven, yet God’s grace and love is so great that he longs to forgive.
My dear friends in Christ, each time we receive the Lord in the holy Eucharist, let us renew our resolution to the Lord to forgive – not just seven times, but 70 times seven.
Deacon Faiva Po’oi serves at St. Timothy Parish in San Mateo.