The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Just because someone has sinned against us, someone else, or themselves, doesn’t give us the right to turn our backs on them. In truth, it is even more important for us to do everything in our power to help them reconcile. We might find it hard to forgive those who have harmed us in some way or who have committed sins that repel us. However, these are the people we are most called to forgive, those with the biggest debts. They might not appreciate our attempts at reconciliation. They might even persecute us or try to take advantage of us, but if we do succeed in mending our relationships with them, then much love can flow from our persistence. In addition, when we sin or fail others, we should do everything we can to make amends for our failings and like the woman in this gospel, we should humble ourselves before Christ and seek his forgiveness for all we have done and failed to do. If we do these things, then we shall be saved and at peace.

Who are the people who have sinned against us? Are we reaching out with love and mercy toward them? Can we find it in our hearts to forgive their trespasses?

O Lord, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Amen.