by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

In a few words our Wisdom reading shows the shadowy nature of wrath, which is anger turned into frightening action, calling both ‘hateful.’ This raging anger offends both neighbor and God. It can quickly become a desire for revenge, and Sirach the writer, warns that God too can take vengeance. Don’t cling to anger, he says; don’t feed it, but seek to forgive, for then God will forgive you. We want God to be merciful to us. Then seek his mercy by showing mercy yourself. We are warned daily by Jesus in the ‘Our Father,’ “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. ” We must never forget that Christian warning.

Both the Psalm and St. Paul remind us of God’s willingness to forgive: “The Lord is kind and merciful,” says the Psalm, “slow to anger, and rich in compassion.” We must encourage God by our own merciful conduct to remain so. Paul reminds us creatures that we live or die as the Lord’s. Failing this, we would destroy our relationship with Him. “Christ died and came to life that he might be Lord of both the dead and living.” Lest we forget to our harm, the forgiving power of Jesus comes because of his death on the cross. Forgiveness is why he came, a trait he cherished, and so must we.

Jesus taught Peter and us a strong lesson when In our Gospel he commanded forgiveness many times over. Peter, perhaps with a touch of self-praise, had asked Jesus if he should forgive as many as seven times. Jesus told him, ‘No! Seventy times seven times!’ He then launched into the parable on forgiveness, offering added incentive to forgive. It is the simple though repugnant story of a man forgiven a large debt by his master (meaning God). Though forgiven himself, the servant is ugly with his neighbor nastily demanding payment of a much smaller debt. Without remorse, he tosses him into prison for non-payment.

Rightfully are we disgusted by the pitiless servant forgiven his sinfulness but unwilling to forgive another. God will make him pay a just punishment, says Jesus. This is not a threat, but a fact of what happens to someone whom God forgives but has himself no heart to do the same. Recall! Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy (Mt 5:7).