In today’s Gospel reading we hear Peter asking Jesus, “How many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?” Jesus answers, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus stresses that our forgiveness of others must have no limits.
And to illustrate the forgiveness expected of us, Jesus gives the parable of the king who, when begged, canceled the huge debt of an official. This same official, though, refused to forego a much smaller debt owed him and sent the debtor to prison until the debt was re-paid. The king was enraged, “I forgave you all you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?”
The lesson of the parable: “So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister.”
We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We hope we really mean what we say.