24TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A
What does it really mean to forgive someone? We learn to say I’m sorry and to forgive someone when we’re young. But, as we get older and life gets more complicated, we discover there is far worse hurts than someone taking our toy in the sandbox, or when someone’s cart bumps into us at the grocery store.
The truth is that life sometimes hurts in specific, tangible ways that cause us real harm – emotionally, mentally, even physically. And when we are hurt or someone we love is hurt, forgiveness is often the farthest thing from our conscious thought. Sure, we hear Jesus’s instructions to forgive, but when it comes down to putting them into practice we balk.
And so, how often should I forgive another? Seven times? Jesus tells us, seventy times! - I actually like the old translation better, when Jesus says, seventy times seven times! - Regardless, what Jesus is saying is that forgiveness must be beyond counting. Forgiveness is an absolute for the true disciple.
That kind of forgiveness is really hard to do. However, there is hope; Jesus indicates that forgiveness is not a check-list or a sticker chart or a final exam. Rather, forgiveness is about discipleship, about a way of life. And, one illustration of this can be seen in the Amish community.
Back in October of 2006, a gunman entered the local school in Nickel Mines, PA. Five school girls were killed. But as shocking as the violence, was the response from the families of those children and the rest of the Amish community.
Softy, subtly, and quietly, they were beginning the difficult task of forgiveness…Within a few hours of the shooting some of the Amish were already reaching out to the killer’s family. A few days later, the community showed up at the gunman’s funeral and even offered financial support for his family.
The Amish community modeled an authentic and powerful witness of what forgiveness looks like. It sounds too good to be true; inconceivable to even those of us who consider ourselves to be faithful Christians.
…One of the most prominent examples of forgiveness in Scripture is the parable we have today’s gospel. It’s a parable of extremes. Jesus introduces us to a character who has a larger than life debt. And the master forgiving that debt is also larger than life.
In contrast is the response of that very same servant to the one who owes him a miniscule amount. While we might expect a repeat of the forgiveness given to the first servant, instead we see the opposite. And his master calls him back to make it clear that this is not how it works. Mercy and grace and forgiveness shown to you necessitates the same response on your part.
Forgiveness challenges us with the hard work of responding in the way of Christ. Examples like the Amish and the lessons taught by Jesus can seem larger than possible.
But these seemingly impossible examples might just be what we need to begin to take even little steps in the direction to which forgiveness calls us; one opportunity at a time…then seven times…then seventy times…then seventy times seven times.