Because we have been forgiven, we must forgive.

A remarkable story of generosity featured on Joe Duffy’s Liveline: Call Back programme on RTÉ a few years ago. It was the story of Shane O’Neill, who had a history of drugs offences and ended up serving time in prison in Belgium. On release from prison, he went to the Irish Embassy to ask for the price of a flight to return home, but was turned down. Another Irish man, Charlie Kiernan, overheard the exchange and decided to help, booking him a flight and buying him breakfast. When Shane asked how he could repay him, Charlie suggested he ‘pay it forward’. The kind gesture was the catalyst for Shane turning his life around.

It is this sort of generous love that we hear about in today’s Gospel, in the parable told by Jesus. The master who cancels the servant’s debt does so out of compassion and generosity. It is of no benefit to him to pardon the debt. He will be down ten thousand talents – one talent was worth more than 15 years’ wages of a labourer, so we are talking about a large sum of money! The servant is grateful, but not so grateful that he is willing to take pity on a fellow servant who owes him just one hundred denarii – one denarius was the usual day’s wage for a labourer.

The parable speaks to us about the kindness of God, but also what he expects from us. Because we have been loved, we must love. Because we have been forgiven, we must forgive. 

Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash

Who do I need to talk to?

The nurse doing her final rounds found the patient in Room 2 stable, his pulse strong, with very little indication of his heart attack that morning. He looked up with tear-filled eyes; ‘Nurse, would you phone my daughter? Tell her I’ve had a slight heart attack. I live alone and she is the only family I have.

She adjusted his nasal oxygen; ‘Of course, I’ll call her.’ He insisted: ‘As soon as you can - please.’ He was breathing too fast.

She phoned the daughter – Jane, from the next-of-kin list. The answering voice screamed: ‘No! He’s not dying is he?’ the nurse’s talk of ‘stable condition’ didn’t convince even herself.

Father and daughter had a year-old row over her boyfriend. Her departing words to her father were ‘I hate you’. She wanted to come for forgiveness for so long. All she needed was 30 minutes to get to the hospital.

Just then the alerts sounded for Room 2. Another cardiac arrest which sent the emergency team scrambling to attempt resuscitation and then… We’ll never know what happened. Did she/he make it?

More importantly, you know who you need to reconcile with. Life is as fragile as a snowflake. But delicate as life is, relationships can be mended. There is not a moment to spare. Do it now, do it as in the Gospel – privately and in a spirit of love.

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

The Cross in our Lives

The modern Christian tends to wear crosses as much as carry them – at least in jewellery. It’s noticeable among celebrities: religious symbols are turned into expensive jewellery. It’s strange to think that a Roman method of execution is now a fashion accessory.

From clothes, bumper stickers and related merchandise to jewellery, Christian material generates an estimated $3 billion in annual revenue. Their real value however is more difficult to peg.

In life people don’t have to seek crosses, they find you. Unlike jewellery, there is no choice or selection involved. Coming in all shapes and sizes, they fit every life.

The original crosses were made to die on, not to die for as jewellery, and what we must crucify daily in our ego. (EGO can mean Edging God Out!)

Peter meant no harm in opposing Jesus – neither do we. Even if nobly intended, his response was contrary to the plan of God. His desire was as old as Adam, to be significant on our own terms. None of this defeatist talk of Jerusalem and death!

Peter and we must all come to the place where we realise that we can’t take one breath, think one thought or accomplish anything worthwhile – without God. He leads; we follow.

The cross isn’t just something to wear, it’s a reality to be lived.

Photo by Constantin Panagopoulos on Unsplash