Gandhi once famously declared:
” ‘an eye for an eye’ will send the whole world blind!”
When we are hurt, we may wish to take revenge on others, to “get even” and to hold onto resentments.
Jesus’ command is to forgive. We rely on the grace of God to help us.
In today’s Gospel reading, the owner of the vineyard (representing God) says to the first servant: “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?”
If someone has had pity on me out of love, then my authentic reaction will be deep appreciation. I will want to pass the gift of forgiveness on to others. Especially if it is God who has forgiven me, I will want to pass on to someone else the liberation I have received.
As you and I receive Christ’s presence this Sunday in his Word and in the Eucharist, let us be open to his forgiving love expressed so deeply in this sacrament. Let us allow our gratitude to flow in the same way toward others.