Reflection for Thursday the 17th, 19th Week, Ordinary Time.

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest, Manjeshwar, Kasargod

Gospel Reading for the Day 

Matthew 18:21 - 19:1   

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.

 ‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’

Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and he left Galilee and came into the part of Judaea which is on the far side of the Jordan.


Reflection on the Readings 

In life, there will always be changes.

So, changes are inevitable, but change makes us look deeper at ourselves and to reflect more about how we are responding to the change.

In the 1st reading, there were two significant changes – one was for Joshua, and the other for the Israelites.

Joshua is appointed by God to be the new leader for the Israelites, and his first task was to lead the Israelites into the promised land.

As for the Israelites, it was a change in identity and status.

They are no more wanderers in the desert but God’s People in the Promised Land.

The crossing of the river Jordan has changed their identity and status.

That also makes us reflect about the teaching of Jesus about forgiveness.

When we forgive others, we cross over the river of resentment and bitterness.

And we enter into the land of peace and joy, and we inherit the promises of Jesus.

So, let us respond to the changes in our lives positively and we will grow in the love of the Lord.

GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day.