Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

"Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

Jesus is willing to forgive us our entire debt. He is willing to wipe our slates clean of all our imperfections, iniquities, sins, and omissions. And yet, how often do we hold grudges or debts against others over much smaller things? We let our pride and selfishness convince us that someone else owes us something: an apology, money, time, work, help, etc. Instead of having pity on those who we perceive owe us something or acting with patience, we often demand immediate payment. When we do this, we act not like Christ, but like the wicked servant who after being forgiven his debt only thinks about his own personal gain. He does not respond to forgiveness with forgiveness, but with avarice. As followers of Christ, we need to conform our lives to him and this means cultivating compassionate hearts. If we do not do this, then we shall suffer the same fate as the wicked servant. But if we forgive our family, friends, and neighbors from our hearts, then we shall be freed of our worldly concerns and discover the spiritual riches of being merciful.

Are we willing to forgive the debts of others? Do we show pity on others when they ask for it? How can we transform our hearts into the Merciful Heart of Christ?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to show pity to others and forgive them their debts to us.

Amen.