The Pardon

"This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants.  Among the first of them was one who owed him ten thousand pieces of gold.  As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, his children and all his goods, as repayment.

The servant threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.'  The king took pity on him, and not only set him free, but even canceled his debt.

When this servant left the king's presence, he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred pieces of silver.  He grabbed him by the throat and almost choked him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!'  His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.'  But the other did not agree, and sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

Now the servants of the king saw what had happened.  They were extremely upset, and so they went and reported everything to their lord.  Then the lord summoned his servant and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so.  Weren't you bound to have pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'  The lord was now angry.  He handed the wicked servant over to be punished, until he had paid the whole debt.'

JESUS added, 'So will MY heavenly FATHER do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.'" - Matthew 18:23-35 

(The offenses we suffer from our companions are nothing compared with our offenses against GOD.  While GOD forgives all, we do not even give others enough breathing space.  GOD does not demand HIS rights, but we, in demanding them, behave like wicked servants [see Matthew 5:43].

This parable goes beyond personal problems.  The world needs, above everything else, the forgiveness of GOD, and those who want a more just society will not achieve it through accusations and hatred.

The parable helps us understand much better another verse in the Scriptures: Revenge is mine, says the LORD; I will pay each one according to his own conduct.  GOD will not demand an account regarding his own rights, [what we owe HIM], but regarding the rights of the little ones who, unable to pay, were deprived of them.  HE will also demand an account regarding those who were sorry for their sins but not forgiven by others.

The fourth discourse of Matthew's Gospel ends with this parable on the duty to forgive.  The Church has not always been as holy as she should have been.  Yet nobody can deny that, at all times, in the Church the mercy of GOD has been preached and people have learned to forgive.)

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