Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
For those who have used the services of a physical therapist, my experience may ring close to home. I have been suffering from back surgery and a weakened leg. My therapy included many leg exercises to strengthen my walking. In doing so, I have occasionally had to wear weights. At first, they seemed awfully heavy, but after a few procedures gradually became much easier. After a time, the therapist removed the weights, and suddenly my legs felt much lighter. It’s called accommodation. I became familiar with the weights so that they no longer felt heavy.
We do the same thing with pain. We become so used to it that eventually the pain isn’t felt anymore. And I’m referring to both physical pain and psychological pain. The readings this Sunday provide a case in point, especially the Gospel. Peter asks Jesus, “…how often must I forgive someone who has offended me? Seven times?” Peter, it would seem, wants the offending party to suffer whatever kind of punishment Peter could inflict. The trouble is that, not only will the offender suffer, but Peter would also have to suffer. Peter would have to bear the cross of anger, revenge, hostility, or whatever until, it would seem, he would finally forgive the person.
The response of Jesus is very clear. Not seven times, but seventy-seven times—if you can keep track that far! In other words, forgive and forget! Don’t carry the burden any longer than you must. What you have received as a gift, give as a gift. What you have received from the Father, pay it forward. This will make your life much easier to live; free from debts, free from worry, free from revenge, free to love and bring happiness and joy into another’s life and yours as well.
Reflection by Fr. Martin Demeulenaere, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections