St Francis of Assisi once met a man bitterly complaining about his master. The man believed he had been wronged and was so angry that he cursed him. Francis listened and gave him a surprising piece of advice: “Forgive your master for the love of God.” Francis understood that resentment can imprison the injured person long after the offence has happened. This is the Arithmetic of Grace.
Sirach warns us against holding tightly to anger and resentment. Peter brings the same calculation to Jesus: “How many times must I forgive?” But Jesus changes the Math of Mercy: not seven times, but seventy-seven times. The servant in today’s Gospel had been forgiven an enormous debt, yet refused to forgive another a much smaller one. He wanted mercy for himself but justice for another.
Perhaps this is sometimes our struggle. We kneel before God saying, “Lord, forgive me,” while keeping a list of those who have hurt us. So ask yourself today: Why have you refused to forgive that person? Do you still need mercy from God? If you need God’s mercy, and we all do, how can you receive it while refusing to extend it to another? Forgiveness does not mean the wound was insignificant. It means refusing to let yesterday’s wound govern tomorrow. Today Christ asks us to change the calculation: I have received mercy; therefore, I must become merciful.
Fr. Kingsley Nze
Director of Pastoral Affairs
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