Good Friday by Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

The  temptation of holding grudges

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (Matthew 18: 35)

Gospel Pearls 09_03_2021

Then Peter came up and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18: 21-35)

Pardon - which comes from "per" (for) and "donum" (gift) -  means “for a gift.” Pardon is the gift par excellence. In fact, if the gift is by definition undeserved by the one who receives it, the gift of forgiveness is the supreme form of giving. This predisposition to forgiveness is good for everyone: for the offended because it removes the temptation to hold grudges and for the forgiven because they are made aware of their calling to become better persons. So let us ask ourselves just how grudging we really are. How much do we try to forgive those who have hurt us? And who has forgiven us today?