THURSDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 13, 2026

Gospel

Matthew 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

REFLECTION

"...unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Two people, two different outcomes. Interesting!!

It has been awhile since I read the book, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. After World War II, she travelled preaching about God's forgiveness. During the war her family aided Jewish people, the Gestapo arrested them and sent them to the concentration camp, Ravensbruck, where her sister Betsie died a slow agonizing death. In her book we read of the cruelty of the guards, the miserable conditions of squalor, illness, starvation and pure torture.

She had every human reason to remain angry.

So how does one forgive someone who did such horrible things to you and your family when anger, vengeance, pain prevail and don't allow you to be otherwise?

To start the journey toward forgiveness, we must first have the will to want to forgive before it becomes a feeling of the heart.

At one of her talks in Germany, she recognized a former guard from Ravensbruck. He approached her and told her that he had become a Christian and knew that God had forgiven him. Then he extended his hand and asked Corrie personally if she would forgive him.

She did not "feel forgiveness" as the memories of her sister's suffering and death were still so fresh. But she also remembered Christ's command to forgive.

It was impossible on her own ...she prayed, "Jesus help me". She extended her hand to him. She experience an extraordinary sense of warmth and love as she did so, and she told him that she forgave him "with all my heart."

Jesus on the Cross taught us about forgiveness. It was beautiful hearing His words to forgive. It is one of the most difficult thing to do. We can't snap our fingers and "Voila" we forgive. Unfortunately, we remember the offense, the words, the pain.

We can't pretend nor feel forgiveness, nor forget, nor excuse nor become friends with the offender, but with God's help we can forgive, surrendering our right to revenge, and placing all into the hands of God. We must decide to give it all to God, and ask Him for the grace of a changed heart. We may be betrayed, abandoned, mocked, beaten and crucified as Jesus. It is not we that forgive but we ask for the desire to forgive and eventually we can cry out, "Father, forgive them." (Luke 23:34).

Jesus, make my heart like Yours—merciful, compassionate, and free. Amen.

God Bless You