12/06/2024
Meditation 06-13-2024
By Pr. Elias Rafanan
"Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:22
This was Jesus answer to Peter's question: "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" (verse 21) The seven times is the perfect score- seven. And this was the practice during Jesus' time.
But not 7 times, but 77 times!
To make His answer clear to Peter and the other disciples, Jesus told them a parable. There was a servant who had a debt of 10,000 talents, that is anout millions of dollars, but was unable to pay it. So the master was gracious to write it off. So happy the servant went out whistling until he met a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii, and that is some few dollars.
He called him, and when he was unable to pay the debt, jumped and put his hands around the neck.
Unfortunately the scene was seen by another servant and reported it to their master. The master said: "You wicked servant I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant jusr as I had on you?" (verse 32,33)
Dear Lord thank You for forgiving me, help me to forgive those who offend me!