HOMILY OF TUESDAY 9TH MARCH, 2021
THIRD WEEK OF LENT
R1:- Daniel 3:2.11-20
PS:- 25:4-5ab.6.7cd.8-9
Accl:- Joel 2:12-13
Gosp:- Matthew 18:21-35
THEME: WHY PEOPLE DO NOT FORGIVE
At times free gift can be a trap. When we get something without much sweat, we tend to play down on its values. For lack of appreciation, we take for a right what we enjoy as a concession.
More so, when we do not savour the full content of God’s mercy, we may not give him thanks for sparing our life despite all our numerous shortcomings. Since God sends down rain upon all, we often take it for granted that having access to all our desires is our birth right.
In our today’ s gospel, Peter asked Jesus, ” Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven”
Jesus response to Peter is a clear indication that forgiveness is a debt which all human beings owe one another. It is a punishment to be counting the offences of others as to get to seventy times seven. The Lord buttressed his point by relating the story of a servant who owed his master ten thousand talents. After much pleading, his master forgave him and cancelled the debt.
Unfortunately, this same servant could not forgive his fellow servant who owed him just a hundred denarii. However, he ran out of luck when his master got wind of his behaviors and sent him to prison for not reciprocating the same gesture which he has enjoyed .
Likewise, all those who lack appreciation for what God has done for them, can never be sensitive to what others are passing through. God has forgiven us much. If we do not recognise this, we cannot forgive others. Lack of forgiveness is a sign of pride. It is a clear indication of witchcraft. Witches do not forgive, because they need a fault upon which they can operate against the other person. They cannot attack without an evidence against their target.
May the Lord rouse his spirit in us that we may be forgiving. May his love always move our hearts to look over the faults of others.
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