September 11th - Reflection

13th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)
A parable of forgiveness
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Reflection
That slave owed his lord a bunch of money. Some resources I researched went from thousands of dollars to millions. The point is he owed a bunch. And his lord forgave the debt because the slave pleaded with him. How much more should the slave have forgiven the debt of those who owed him. And here is our link to sin.

Just as God has forgiven our sins we are to forgive those who sin against us. I owe a bunch for my sin. I can't even come close to paying back what I owe. Just because God sent Jesus to take on my sin and die in my sin on that cross, this does not give me the right to even try to pay it back. Even if I could get some back from those who have sinned against me, that too, wouldn't even come close to paying back what I owe.

So instead of this whole paying God back for forgiveness, he encourages me, to forget about it! He encourages me to tell my friends who have sinned against me... forget about it! My sin, your sin and all sin was taken care of on that cross by Jesus. Don't live in concentration on sin. Live in concentration of the love and forgiveness that Jesus gave for me, you and all people on that cross. Remember that! Remember that and live that love forever in unison with Jesus, and one another. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord you gave your life for all of our sin. Help us to forget about that and live the love you have shown us one for another and remember that!... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen