HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

Homily for Tuesday of the 3rd week of Lent

Daniel 3:2, 11-20; Ps.25; Matthew 18:21-35

Theme: The scandal of Ingratitude!

In the gospel reading of today, it scandalized the king and the other servants that this servant whom the king has written off his grievous debt, could not exercise patience with a fellow servant who owned him far lesser amount than he owned the king. When the king forgave this ungrateful servant his debt, the king did not instruct him to also forgive others. But when the ungrateful servant failed to likewise forgive his fellow servant, the forgiveness he hitherto enjoyed from his king, was withdrawn.

The human mind is such that it is easier for a person to perpetuate an evil done to him than to extend a kind gesture he has received from another. In fact, it is easier to remember the wrong done to us than to remember the kindness we have received. It is on this note that the parable of today’s gospel becomes very instructive. We have to change the narrative. Rather than remembering and perpetuating evil done to us, let us commit to memory and extend to others the favours we have received.

Just as the king forgave the servant and expected him to have invariably learnt how to forgive, so also God shows us kindness and expects us to, by that very experience, learn how to be kind to another. There is no need for a new commandment on that! Each time God provides for us, answers our prayers either directly or through some human intervention, He expects that we will do same to others. Thus, every encounter with God is a learning experience. From how God treats us, we are to learn how to treat other. Little wonder in John 13:34, Jesus said: Love one another as I have loved you. Not to obey this commandment is to act scandalously like the servant in today’s gospel. Peter wanted to know how many times he can forgive his neighbour. With this parable, Jesus answered that since God does not keep count of how many times He forgives us, we should likewise not keep count in forgiving others.

Each time we recite the Lord’s Prayer, we say: forgive us our trespasses as we forgive us those who trespass against us. By these words, we pledge not to be like the ungrateful servant. Beloved, the greatest sign of appreciation is not in saying “Thank you” but in learning how to give to others just as it has been given to you. If we resolve to be committed to this virtuous act, soon the world will know little or no evil.