‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go. Mt 18:26-27
In today's Gospel proclamation our Lord teaches us the parable of the king who settled his accounts with his servant.
Thus, when the servant could not pay all that was owed to the king, he (the servant) begged his king to have compassion upon him. He would pay his king back as soon as possible.
Upon seeing the servants regret, anxiety, remorse and fear, the king had pity on his servant and cancelled the servant's debt because he knew he wanted to pay him back; however, could not due to his low income.
Hence, we then hear that the servant approaches another fellow servant who owed him money. Unlike the compassion the king had on him, the servant treated his fellow servant horribly. He even had the fellow servant thrown into prison because he was unable to pay him back immediately.
Therefore, once the king heard of what had happened, he reinstated the first servant's debt and treated him in the same manner as the servant treated his fellow servant; no mercy, no compassion and harshly!
Having stated thus, the moral of this teaching for us is this – Just as the Lord has compassion upon each and every one of us when we approach Him in the mystery of confession, so too are we to have compassion on those who wrong us; if and when they come to their senses asking for our forgiveness.
Within Holy scripture it is re-echoed time and time again. We are to love our neighbour and treat others as the Lord treats us. According to the Apostles and evangelist Luke Jesus exhorts in 6th chapter and 36th verse: Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.
Moreover, we pray and ask this every single day - when we pray as the Lord taught us to, in the prayer to the Father: forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us!
The Holy prophet Isaiah writes: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isa 1:18
In addition, the Laudable Apostle Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus modern day Turkey: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Therefore, the criteria for any person to call themselves a true Christian is firstly: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mk 12:30-31
Today the Church commemorates the Dormition or the falling asleep of the All Holy Theotokos. (True Birth giver Of God)
Our Holy Mother has to be one of the greatest inspirations of compassion and forgiveness in the course of human history.
She stood in silence at the foot of Her Lord’s cross as Her heart was ripped out of Her chest so to speak; watching humanity beat to a palp, ridicule, spit upon, crucify and kill Her little baby boy who was Her whole life! The very reason for Her existence and what she breathed for every second of every day!
Thus, the prophecy of the Elder Simeon had been fulfilled just as he stated unto the Theotokos: And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Lk 2:35
Those of you who are parents will totally understand what I am trying to say. However, did She, Mariam Theotokos, rebel and seek revenge or harbour hatred towards those who brutally murdered Her baby boy? No! As She said unto the Archangel Gabriel when he came to ask if She would accept to carry, He who is uncontainable (Jesus): May it be done unto me according to thy will! Thus, forgiving all those who had wronged our Lord and Her as His Mother!
In conclusion, our greatest help and intercessor is our Holy Mother – I say our Mother because from the foot of the cross Jesus made us Her adopted children via the beloved Apostle John when He (Jesus) acclaims: son behold your Mother, Mother, behold your son! Jn 19:25-29
Thus, the Lord has taught us to honour our Holy Mother as early as the time of Moses when He (Christ) gave the tablets of the Law unto Moses from Mount Sini: Honour thy Father (The All-Holy-Trinity) and Honour thy Mother (The Holy Theotokos)!
Through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos who has fallen asleep in thee on this all-blessed day O Lord and via the prayers of thy Step-Father Joseph, may you have mercy on us for you alone are good and love us beyond conceiving. Amen
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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