Forgiveness and reconciliation

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Today’s gospel from Mathew 18:21-35 is about forgiveness. What is central in this gospel is God’s forgiveness. We are not forgiven through some magical ritual which allows us to do nothing about the way we treat others or fail to forgive others even as we expect God to fogive all that we have done. Reconciliation demands change. “Be compassionate just as your heavenly Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:36) or, as some translate it, “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.” This sums up what Matthew is saying. To receive forgiveness, God demands something of us, to forgive sister or brother totally! Now this is hard but it is so desperately needed in a world wherein vengeance, hatred, violent animosity and war have become the rule of the day! So this gospel is not about some private little ritual. It is a challenge to the world. As Pope Leo says, “There is no such thing as a holy war; only holy peace.” In a recent meeting of religious leaders at Rome’s Colosseum, he also said, “We have prayed for peace according to our diverse traditions and we are now gathered together to proclaim a message of reconciliation. Conflicts are present in all parts of life, but war is no help in dealing with them or finding solutions. Peace is a constant journey of reconciliation.”