FORGIVENESS

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16 Aug 2018 Thursday
Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore William Goh


Matthew 18:21–19:1

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.e

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;f 25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii;* and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers,h till he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

Key messages from the Archbishop's reflection

The Scripture readings reveals to us the heart and mercy of God - repentance and forgiveness.

  • The Christian life = a life of authentic freedom, joy and love.
  • And the enabler = forgiveness leading to reconciliation
  • Forgiving others, forgiving self.
  • Unlimited forgiveness = freedom = happiness

A disciple is not only one who is in communion with the Church.  He must also be in communion with all who hurt him.


Forgiveness:
  1. Frees us from the clutch of our enemies
  2. Brings healing to our enemies - we need to know that they are as hurt as we are
  3. Must come from the heart, not just verbal
  4. Is not a matter of logic/intellect, but of the will and the heart, else we are only deceiving ourselves

How to forgive
  1. We must be conscious, reflected and felt of God's forgiveness of ourselves - we cannot give forgiveness without having received it from the Lord
  2. God allows us to suffer in order to come to realisation that we need to forgive - there is no way to peace and joy except in forgiveness

The mercy and forgiveness of God is unlimited.  We must share the heart of God.


Additional Notes from Liturgical Biblical Diary published by the Society of St Paul:

  • God’s pardon is received gratuitously.  Forgiveness in return, must be given gratuitously.
  • But this can only be bestowed if one understands and experiences how it is to be forgiven by God.


The Archbishop’s full reflection:

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