The Call to Forgive: Homily for Thursday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I

Gospel Reading: Mt 18:21–19:1

The message for us today is clear and simple, even though it is not easy. You and I have received mercy and forgiveness from God for our sins, and we must give mercy and forgiveness to those who have sinned against us. The debt that you and I owe God because of our sins against Him is infinitely greater than the debt that any person owes us. Forgiveness is not easy. But we must forgive. Jesus could not be any clearer. He tells us in the Gospel today that we must forgive our brothers and sisters “from the heart.” To forgive someone is not to say that what they did is okay. To forgive someone is to let go of our grasp on their throat, to release them, to not wish them harm, and to let God be their judge rather than us.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The measure with which we measure will be measured out to us (Mt. 7:2). As we continue with this Mass today, let us ask the Lord for gratitude for the mercy and forgiveness that He gives to us, and let us ask Him to help us to forgive the people who have hurt us, lest you and I hear from God on our judgment day what the servant in today’s passage heard: “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?”