A sermon preached on the Tuesday in the third week of Lent at the Chapel of the Apostles in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Readings: Song of the Three Young Men 2-4, 11-20a; Psalm 25:3-10; Matthew 18:21-35
A video of this sermon in Spanish can be found here.
In the Gospel reading today, there are many differences between the Spanish and English versions. It is important to know that the English version is more accurate, because it is closer to the original Greek than the Spanish version.
In reality, the functionary is already a slave. This slave must pay the king a debt that he cannot pay. This debt is absurd. It is equal to 150,000 years of work. Certainly, it is impossible for the slave to pay the debt in this life. Impossible. So the king forgives his debt.
Then upon leaving, the slave meets another slave who owes him, in the Spanish version, a small sum. Relative to the debt the slave owed the king, this is true. But this debt is equal to 100 days of work. It is not small, but it is significant. The average worker in the United States makes $35,000 each year. 100 days of work is equal to approximately $13,000. This is not a small sum in reality. It is significant. To forgive this debt is difficult. To forgive is no doubt a sacrifice. To forgive this debt has real consequences for life.
It is important to remember this–to remember that to forgive is a sacrifice with real consequences for our lives. If we are honest, to forgive such a debt is absurd for us.
But that’s the point. Jesus tells Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy-seven times. When we shed our self-righteousness and are honest with ourselves, we understand that this radical forgiveness is not easy. It is not something to shrug off. Sometimes it is absurd.
And it always has real consequences for our lives. Forgiveness means that we must die. This is a consequence. But when we forgive, especially when it is not easy, forgiveness means we will live. This is also a consequence.
May we live in the same way we pray: Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. For there is the path of eternal life.
Storied Grace 