In today’s reading, we hear Jesus talking about one of the most difficult things in life, forgiveness. Matthew’s Gospel recalls the exchange:
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy times seven.”
In the Jewish world of Jesus’ day, the number "seven" was symbolic for perfection or wholeness. Imagine what seventy times perfection or wholeness is! Peter is really asking, “If someone in the faith community sins against me, should I forgive that person perfectly or wholly?” Jesus responds, not just perfectly or wholly, but in the same way that God forgives, that is with mercy and compassion. God forgives us not just perfectly or wholly, that is a forgiveness is equal to the offense, but God’s forgiveness goes infinitely beyond the one single offense, God forgives us for what we have done, what we have failed to do and what we will do or fail to do in to in the future. God showers us with mercy and compassion. Jesus calls us to deal with those in the church community in the same manner. He would have us treat everyone as God does, with mercy and compassion. That is a tall order to be sure, but, in the words of St. Paul, with God we can do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine.
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy times seven.”
In the Jewish world of Jesus’ day, the number "seven" was symbolic for perfection or wholeness. Imagine what seventy times perfection or wholeness is! Peter is really asking, “If someone in the faith community sins against me, should I forgive that person perfectly or wholly?” Jesus responds, not just perfectly or wholly, but in the same way that God forgives, that is with mercy and compassion. God forgives us not just perfectly or wholly, that is a forgiveness is equal to the offense, but God’s forgiveness goes infinitely beyond the one single offense, God forgives us for what we have done, what we have failed to do and what we will do or fail to do in to in the future. God showers us with mercy and compassion. Jesus calls us to deal with those in the church community in the same manner. He would have us treat everyone as God does, with mercy and compassion. That is a tall order to be sure, but, in the words of St. Paul, with God we can do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine.
No comments:
Post a Comment