“Since he had no way of paying it back...” – Matthew 18:25

       In the early 90s, a close friend during my college days borrowed a huge amount of money from me. Well, at that time, P15,000 was big enough for me.

       He had lost his job in a multinational oil company and had been jobless for three years. Credit card companies were hounding him. His house was at risk of being foreclosed.

       His wife, a medical doctor, had just started her practice and could not be expected to help much in solving his financial difficulties.

       For many years, my friend kept in touch, sending greeting cards on special occasions, and all the time apologizing that he still could not settle his debt.

       I understood that he had no way of paying me back, so I was ready to forget it. But after a couple of years, the wind suddenly blew in his favor. He got a high-paying job in a faraway country. Not long after, he was finally able to pay his debt.

       The experience taught me that by embracing the situation of others, I am able to show God’s mercy and compassion. And I pray that if ever I find myself in the same situation, I’ll receive His mercy and compassion, too. Tess V. Atienza (theresa.a@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Lord, I pray for people who are in great financial debt. Lead them to the right channel of Your blessings for them.

Blessed John of Parma, pray for us.

What does it mean to trust in God? The answer varies according to time, place, person and situation. There is no easy answer to this question. Let us be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to know how He will work in our life.

25 Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud: 34 For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. 35 Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, 36 to whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. 37 For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. 38 We have in our day no prince, prophet or leader; no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation or incense; no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. 39 But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received. 40 As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. 41 And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. 42 Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. 43 Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”

R: Remember your mercies, O Lord.

4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your kindness are from of old. 7 In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R)

There is power in forgiveness. Jesus gave us salvation as He forgave our sins. When we forgive one another, we heal and renew our relationships. Forgiveness has the power to break the cycle of sin and violence. If only nations could learn this lesson, then there will be no war.

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.

21 Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. 23 That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 25 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. 26 At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ 27 Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 28 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.’ 29 Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. 31 Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 32 His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 34 Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. 35 So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

think: Is there someone you find hard to forgive? Pray for the grace to forgive, then do it.

Read the Bible in one year Genesis 22-24

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

FORGIVEN TO FORGIVE

A text message from a friend said: “God gave you today 86,400 seconds as gift. Have you used at least one to say thank you?”

        Do our daily actions reflect this truth or do we take it for granted?

       In the Gospel today, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother. Jesus gives a short answer, telling a parable to make sure His answer is understood. In the parable God is the king, and we are the servants who owe the king a huge amount. We owe God everything. He owes us nothing.

       The servant, not being able to pay, falls to his knees and begs for more time  so that he can pay back the debt. The king offers him more than just time — He pardons the entire debt, a lesson about how generous God is. When we turn to God and ask for forgiveness, He offers us much more than we could hope for — He pardons our entire debt. Then why, we might ask, does the king not pardon the debt from the beginning, instead of ordering him along with his wife and children to be sold?

       He calls the servant to account so that the servant will realize how much he owes and, in realizing this, he might imitate God when dealing with his fellow worker. God does not want us to punish us for our sins. He desires to forgive us the great debt we owe Him, but He calls us to account for our sins in the hope that we will recognize how much we owe to Him and, thus, will be ready to forgive also those who owe us much less than we owe God.

       The offenses we suffer from our fellowmen are real offenses, but before we demand justice, we have to reflect that it is only because God has forgiven us our sins that we have the liberty to demand reparation from our fellowmen. That reflection must lead us to show the same mercy to others as God has shown us. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------

Do you remember what you owe to God when you get irritated about a person who

owes you something?

Lord, thank You for this message. I must recognize that You have been merciful with me and  forgiven me the great debt I owe. Thank You for the many times You have given me a second chance. During this time of Lent, help me to practice mercy toward those who owe or offend me. Amen.