[annalex]

This parable reflects our view on salvation, works, and also clarifies the doctrine of purgatory.

orabat eum dicens [...] omnia reddam tibi

The sinner makes a declaration of faith and purpose to work out the debt in the same sentence

debitum dimisit ei [...] ille autem noluit

Christ the Lord forgives an existing debt/sin not asking for repayment. The sinner, however, refuses to do the work of mercy that the logic of forgiveness demands. This is a clear indication how the forgiveness of sin at Calvary does not render the faithful onto a robotic state of complete obedience but rather allows him to do or not do the requisite charitable work.

iratus dominus eius tradidit eum tortoribus quoadusque redderet universum debitum

The original punishment was twofold: the sinner, his household, and all his possessions are sold, and the payment is made out of the proceeds. The second punushment is merely that the payment is made under torture. In other words, the sinner remains forgiven, but his conduct following the forgiveness necessitates the torture. This is Purgatory: the place of purifying torture of the forgiven, temporary till the measure of their forgiven sin is cleansed in their souls. Once that consequence of sin is purged, the soul is free in Paradise.

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing bump.

[InterestedQuestioner]

Thanks for the ping, I like your analysis.

Heard a great reflection on those readings Saturday evening. Father noted that the first person has an astronomical debt, essentially it's would have been about as large of an amount of money as you could imagine and this person apparently doesn't appreciate his situation, he claims he will work it off. The Lord takes pity on him, and forgives him the debt in it's entirety. Next this man chokes his fellow servant, and demands unmercifully that his fellow pay him a much smaller amount, perhaps one-hundred days wages.

The point is that if we do not show mercy, we will not be shown mercy. Father tied it into the Lord's prayer, which we pray at each mass, and which follows the request for forgiveness by God with the statement that we forgive our fellow man.

[PetroniusMaximus]

***Christ the Lord forgives an existing debt/sin not asking for repayment. The sinner, however, refuses to do the work of mercy that the logic of forgiveness demands. This is a clear indication how the forgiveness of sin at Calvary does not render the faithful onto a robotic state of complete obedience but rather allows him to do or not do the requisite charitable work.***

Seems to me more of an illustration of a religious person whose heart has not been truly converted - and is therefore on his way to hell.



"Those that do not forgive their brother’s trespasses, did never truly repent of their own, nor ever truly believe the gospel; and therefore that which is taken away is only what they seemed to have, Lu. 8:18."




***The original punishment was twofold: the sinner, his household, and all his possessions are sold, and the payment is made out of the proceeds. The second punushment is merely that the payment is made under torture. In other words, the sinner remains forgiven, but his conduct following the forgiveness necessitates the torture.***

The point of the story was that the man owed like 200 million dollars - an unpayable amount!!!!


He owed 10,000 talents - by comparison, the entire imperial taxes of Judea, Idumea, and Samaria for one year were only 600 talents!

And how could he "pay" this off in prison? He could not. He was condemned to perpetual imprisonment.