Sunday Gospel Reflection | Matthew 18:21–35
In today’s Gospel, Matthew 18:21–35, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him.
Jesus answers, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Then He tells the parable of the servant whose enormous debt was forgiven by his master, only for that same servant to refuse to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him.
And this is where the Gospel becomes personal.
Because sometimes, we are that servant.
We have received forgiveness from God for things we could never repay. We have experienced His patience, His mercy, and His grace—even in moments when we didn't deserve them.
Yet when someone hurts us, we can find it incredibly difficult to extend that same mercy.
Forgiveness Is a Two-Edged Sword
Forgiveness is a two-edged sword.
When we refuse to forgive, we may think we are punishing the person who hurt us.
But often, we are the ones carrying the weight.
Unforgiveness can become a quiet burden in our hearts. We replay what happened. We carry the anger. We remember the betrayal. And slowly, the wound continues to consume our peace.
That's why forgiveness is not necessarily about saying, “What you did was okay.”
It isn't.
Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting.
It doesn't mean pretending it didn't hurt.
It doesn't mean trusting someone again or allowing them to continue hurting you.
You can forgive someone and still remember the lesson. Remembering can give you wisdom. Forgiving gives you freedom.
Passing on the Mercy We Received
And perhaps that's what Jesus is asking us today:
Are you willing to pass on the mercy that God has generously given you?
Not because the person deserves it.
But because you know what it feels like to receive mercy when you didn't deserve it yourself.
There may be someone you still need to forgive.
Someone whose name still carries pain.
Someone you believe doesn't deserve your forgiveness.
But maybe forgiveness isn't about what they deserve.
Maybe it's about refusing to let their wrongdoing continue to control your heart.
Choose Forgiveness Today
So today, choose forgiveness.
Forgive, but don't forget the lesson.
Release the bitterness, but keep the wisdom.
Let go of the desire for revenge, and let God deal with what you cannot.
Because the mercy God gives us was never meant to stop with us.
We receive mercy so that we can become merciful.
And perhaps the greatest question from today's Gospel isn't:
“How many times should I forgive?”
“After everything God has forgiven me for, am I willing to forgive others?”
