Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
“Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”
Overview
““How many times must I forgive my brother, as many as seven times?” Both readings this morning take issue with our need to count the cost of forgiveness.
In Genesis 50:15-21, Joseph’s brothers are afraid that Joseph will seek to “pay us back in full for all the wrong we did.” Whereas in Matthew 18:21-35, Peter wants to know the exact number of times he must forgive. When Jesus replies 77 times (or 7 times 70) he is not stipulating a higher number, he is ridiculing the very idea of keeping count.
In the parable he tells the slave owes the king 10,000 talents, an impossible number, a way of saying that, if we were counting, we would not reach the end of the numbers: it could be billions, trillions, gazillions. The point is that if God is keeping score, then we’re all doomed.
But God doesn’t count. God is not transactional, grace is not about tit for tat, it is about reconciliation, the restoration of relationship. God would forgive any sin, cancel any debt if it brought us back to God’s loving heart.
Why then does the parable end with the once forgiven slave being punished? Perhaps his punishment arising from his own inability to live in the grace and abundance he has been offered. He cannot free himself from holding account. In contrast to Joseph, who having received freedom and generosity liberates his brothers, he remains bound, unable to free himself from keeping scores.
God does not forgive us because we forgive others; we forgive others because we have been released from keeping score to live in an economy where (as we will sing in our offertory hymn) “’tis mercy all, immense and free.”
FIRST READING
Genesis 50:15-21
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
GOSPEL
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
