17 August, Thursday — Hypocrisy

Thursday of Week 19 in Ordinary Time

Jos 3:7-11,13-17
Mt 18:21-19:1

“Änd that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.”

Today’s Gospel is about Peter’s famous question to Jesus about forgiveness. He asked our Lord how many times must he forgive his brother if he wrongs him? Thinking that seven times is more than generous, but our Lord surprises Peter (and us), by responding “not seven, but seventy-seven times”.

When we are on the receiving end and in need of forgiveness, we appreciate the magnanimity and the infinite mercy of our God. When we are on the other side, the giving end of forgiveness, it all seems so hard.

The anger, the sorrow, the pain, the injustice that we feel when someone wrongs us makes it seem impossible to do what the Lord asks us to do. Yet, Jesus is not asking us to do anything that He hasn’t done or still is doing. If I were in His shoes, I wouldn’t forgive me! Thank God He is our merciful God!

What is the forgiveness that Jesus is talking about? Upon reflecting on the subject of forgiveness, there are several scenarios. One, where the offender acknowledges the offense and asks for forgiveness. Second, where the offender does not acknowledge the offense and does not seek forgiveness. In either case, we are called to offer our forgiveness without hesitation and without counting our costs.

There are also different types of forgiveness that we offer – unconditional and conditional. Unconditional forgiveness is like unconditional love. No matter how badly and how often the other person has upset us, we are quick to forgive. An example would be the relationship between a parent and child. Conditional forgiveness is perhaps what some of us are most familiar with. It is a forgiveness on the surface, but does not reach the heart. Let me explain.   

My version of forgiveness was avoidance. If someone repeatedly offended me, I would avoid contact with them. If that fails, I would be cordial, but nothing more. I would never want to retaliate or hurt them, but in the same breath, I would never lend a helping hand or go out of my way to accommodate them. When something bad befalls them, I secretly smirk inside. I am sure that this is not the forgiveness that our Lord is speaking of. He wants us to forgive from our hearts, without counting the cost to ourselves, to our sensitivities and to our sense of fairness. I am still working on it.

Brothers and sisters, God wants us to love like He loves. Can you imagine if He loves like we love?  There would never be true forgiveness in this world! Thank God He loves us the way He loves – full of mercy and true forgiveness – without strings attached.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Winnie Kung)

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we pray that you grant us the grace of forgiveness, forgiving others as You have forgiven us. Help us to be like You, full of mercy and of love.

Thanksgiving: Dearest Lord, thank you for giving us the Sacrament of the Eucharist and of Reconciliation; for offering us forgiveness so that we may be reconciled to our Heavenly Father.