Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

On Forgiveness!

Very Reverend Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org

(Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)

In today's Gospel reading (Matthew 18:23-35) we receive a most valuable message about forgiveness.  Jesus recounts how a steward who was forgiven ten thousand talents (an enormous sum - much more than a labourer of the day could earn in his whole lifetime) passionately refused to forgive a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii (something that the labourer could have earned in about a hundred days' work).

The message is clear - those who are forgiven a great deal ought to be able to forgive those who owe them a great deal less.  It does not seem to be a message that is acceptable to banking institutions and businessfolk whose chief concern is the bottom line.  We may even imagine that the chap who was forgiven his huge debt (but what are we to think of the king who was so careless about what was owed him?) was so shaken by his narrow escape that he resolved (foolishly in this event) that he'd better be firm in collecting from his debtors in case more hard times lay ahead. 

We can understand this man and even sympathize with him.  We ourselves are part of this world order which is deeply marked by the fall which clouded the essential human nature which is naturally loving, compassionate and joyful in generosity.  We are afraid: what if there will not be enough to go around?  What if we or those for whom we are responsible: family, investors, the staff who work for us - are left without provision for our or their needs?

Jesus' parable puts things in perspective.  We can see that this king who is so generous - and then so angry that his generosity is not imitated - is the Lord of the Universe Himself.  Why it is to Him that we owe literally EVERYTHING!!  Everything we have ever had or will have, our very lives, our very existence derives from Him!  And how much of it is wasted!  And how very frequently we transgress His laws - not only those which have been written in the Holy Writings, but even those that have been engraved in our hearts - our consciences.

And all these things until now have been given freely and forgiveness also given freely for our transgressions.  Yet we are too afraid, too angry, too self-preoccupied to let this generosity flow through our being out to the universe, to our fellow beings.  We stop it up by our refusal to change, to unfold, to become warm and loving instead of cold and demanding or complaining.

The wonder is that we are not always like that.  More often than not we do give and do forgive.  But Jesus gives the call and the challenge: go even further!  Yes, further and further, until you can feel positively joyous about forgiving and giving - especially those who have truly wronged you and do not even recognize the marvelous gifts God gives them through you!

Can we imagine ourselves being like that?  Being like God?  Well, my dear brothers and sisters, that is precisely what we are called to do.  Imagine ourselves to be like Him - and proceed minute by minute, word by word, action by action to make this a reality.  That is the call of the Transfiguration.  That is also the challenge of the Dormition: even the Mother of God, the Theotokos, finally fell asleep (died, as the world would put it).  And so shall we.  Only then shall our challenge end - and we shall be received by the King of Glory to accept our reward.  Shall He be please with us and rejoice in the generosity He has ever shown to us?  Or will we have bitterly disappointed Him - and what will be the result of that? 

Now is the time to think of these things.  And prepare.

[ Home ] [ Articles ] [ Prayer ] [ Saints ] [ Theophilus ] [ Q & A ] [About Us] [ ]