Sept 13, 2020

Post date: Sep 15, 2020 12:20:58 AM

September 17, 2017 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

Even before the 6-day war; Israel and Jordan had been mutual enemies.

But in the summer of 1994 King Hussein of Jordan and President Rabin of Israel signed a peace accord.

To prepare the way for the signing of the peace treaty,

Israeli foreign minister Simon Peres crossed the Dead Sea

by helicopter to end nearly half a century of enmity.

He said, ‘It took a mere 15 minutes to ride over.

But it took us 46 years to arrive at this time and this place

of peace and promise.’ King Hussein said,

‘Out of all the days of my life, I don’t believe there is one such as this.’

Peace is a process. So, too, is reconciliation.

They both take time.

In today’s Gospel, we hear that we must forgive our brother or

sister seventy-seven times. In the old translation, 70 times 7.

Don’t get hung up on the numbers.

It means that our forgiving must be like God’s, i.e. without limit.

Pope Francis wrote last year: “God’s forgiveness knows no limits;

it is greater than anything we can imagine, and it comes to all

who know in their hearts that they have done wrong and

desire to return to him.

God looks at the heart that seeks forgiveness.

The problem, unfortunately, comes whenever we have to deal

with a brother or sister who has even slightly offended us.

The reaction described in today’s parable describes it perfectly.

‘he seized him by the throat and said, “pay what you owe!”

Here we encounter all the drama of our human relationships.

When we are indebted to others, we expect mercy;

but when others are indebted to us, we demand justice!

All of us do this.

It is a reaction unworthy of Christ’s disciples,

nor is it a sign of a Christian style of life.”

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting the wrong done to us.

It means remembering and letting go. Forgiveness is one

of the highest and most beautiful forms of love.

It is a holy task that only God can help us fully accomplish.

We need to pray for the gift of forgiveness.

Unless we forgive, we will not be able to let go of

bitterness and resentment, and so will not know peace or healing.

Jesus said, “Unless we forgive others, God won’t forgive us.”

When we refuse to forgive, we break down the bridge

over which we ourselves must pass.