Tuesday March 26, 2019
Lenten Weekday
1st Reading: Daniel 3:25,34-43
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“… A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.
“The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’ The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.
“This official then left the king’s presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck…, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’ The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.
“… Then the lord summoned his official and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?’ The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished…”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Forgiveness reminds me of my experience during the 20th World Youth Day in Germany in 2005. While still in the Philippines we booked a hotel in Cologne just in case the accommodation prepared by organizers would fail.
True enough we were housed at Neuss in classrooms without sleeping provisions. It was so cold that we coughed all night as the fat ones snored like second hand engines. We closed all windows, bearing the chemistry of odors of the tired feet of various nationalities.
I called up hotel Arian to confirm the accommodation we had arranged. An arrogant lady picked up the phone. Her haughtiness notwithstanding, I managed to get confirmation of our accommodation. When we got to the hotel, a more courteous lady accommodated us. On our way out for dinner a different lady manning the reception area was talking over the phone. Then we overheard her saying, “Is there a Rossdel Noel in your group?” I didn’t realize she was talking to me. When she raised her voice and gave me a sharp German look I recognized her by her voice as the same arrogant lady I talked to over the phone the previous night. I announced my intention to lodge a formal complaint. She apologized and said she was willing to kneel down if needed to be forgiven. That melted my heart. If a Christian should forgive 70×7 times, the lady had maltreated me only twice. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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