Peter went up to Jesus and said, “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18 : 21
In Scripture, the number seven denotes perfection or wholeness, hence Peter assuming if he forgives his brother seven times he will have done all that is expected of him. But Jesus quickly puts him right on this and instead mentions a surprising figure of seventy seven to illustrate that we should not set any limits on our forgiveness of others.
In fact, in the parable that follows (the unforgiving debtor), Jesus makes clear that we can enter the kingdom of heaven only if we dispense the same forgiveness we ask and receive from our heavenly Father. If we don’t then we will not be at peace, but tortured until the debt is paid, until we forgive those who are in debt to us. We have to cancel the debt before the gates of heaven are opened, in this life and the next. Our peace can only come when our heart decides to forgive, even oneself.
In life we cancel all sorts of things: appointments, cheques, contracts, services, arrangements, orders… but perhaps the hardest challenge is to cancel a debt owed to us, not just financial but maybe an obligation, or perhaps even an apology that we expect from a person. Sometimes our demand for satisfaction can become extreme, as demonstrated by the moneylender Shylock in Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, when he presses for the pound of flesh secured against his loan made to Antonio. There can also be the danger of “righteousness” masking an unforgiving heart.
Our Lady often speaks about forgiveness in her Medjugorje messages. This message is particularly powerful:
Dear children; Today, with a motherly heart, I call you to learn to forgive, completely and unconditionally. You suffer injustice, betrayals and prosecutions, but by that you are closer to and dearer to God. My children, pray for the gift of love. Only love forgives all, as my Son forgives – follow him. I am among you and am praying that when you come before your Father you can say: “Here I am Father, I followed your Son, I had love and forgave with the heart, because I believed in your judgment and trusted in you.” Thank you. Medjugorje message, September 2, 2009
