20250814 THE LIBERATING POWER OF FORGIVENESS
1″4 August 2025, Thursday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Joshua 3:7-11,13-17 |
The Israelites cross the Jordan dry-shod
The Lord said to Joshua, ‘This very day I will begin to make you a great man in the eyes of all Israel, to let them be sure that I am going to be with you even as I was with Moses. As for you, give this order to the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: “When you have reached the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you are to stand still in the Jordan itself”.’ Then Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘Come closer and hear the words of the Lord your God.’ Joshua said, ‘By this you shall know that a living God is with you and without a doubt will expel the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite and the Jebusite. Look, the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, is about to cross the Jordan at your head. As soon as the priests with the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, have set their feet in the waters of the Jordan, the upper waters of the Jordan flowing down will be stopped in their course and stand still in one mass.’
Accordingly, when the people struck camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant in front of the people. As soon as the bearers of the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests who carried it touched the waters (the Jordan overflows the whole length of its banks throughout the harvest season) the upper waters stood still and made one heap over a wide space – from Adam to the fortress of Zarethan – while those flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah, that is, the Salt Sea, stopped running altogether. The people crossed opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood still on dry ground in mid-Jordan, and all Israel continued to cross dry-shod till the whole nation had finished its crossing of the river.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 113A(114):1-6 |
Alleluia!
When Israel came forth from Egypt,
Jacob’s sons from an alien people,
Judah became the Lord’s temple,
Israel became his kingdom.
Alleluia!
The sea fled at the sight:
the Jordan turned back on its course,
the mountains leapt like rams
and the hills like yearling sheep.
Alleluia!
Why was it, sea, that you fled,
that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?
Mountains, that you leapt like rams,
hills, like yearling sheep?
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | Ps118:88 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Because of your love give me life,
and I will do your will.
Alleluia!
Or: | Ps118:135 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your decrees.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 18:21-19:1 |
'How often must I forgive my brother?'
Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’
Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and he left Galilee and came into the part of Judaea which is on the far side of the Jordan.
THE LIBERATING POWER OF FORGIVENESS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Jos 3:7-11, 13-17; Ps 113A:1-6; Mt 18:21-19:1]
The Gospel yesterday focused on the need to reach out to our errant brothers and sisters. After all is said and done, merely coming to an understanding with each other is not sufficient to move forward. We just have to consider the many cases that have gone through mediation or the courts – how many of them are reconciled at the end of the process? Even when a judgement is made, many cannot accept it. And even if they do accept it, many still harbour unforgiveness in their hearts, unable to let go of the injuries they have suffered. Most continue to harbour grudges against one another and regard each other as enemies. Any reconciliation, at best is superficial. The external process might be followed, but the true spirit of reconciliation is not achieved. Something essential is missing.
What is this important dimension of reconciliation? It is forgiveness, as Jesus tells us – and more than just forgiveness, it must come from the heart: “And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.” This is the essence of today’s Gospel message. Indeed, the Gospel is clear, and the constant theme in Jesus’ preaching is the need for forgiveness. In fact, He taught more about forgiveness – both divine and human – than any other topic. The key to healing, unity, and peace is forgiveness.
It is for this reason that Jesus instructs us to forgive at all times. St Peter thought he was being very magnanimous when he suggested that one should forgive seven times when someone has hurt us. But Jesus replied, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.” In the rabbinic interpretation, it was believed that God would forgive a person three times, but would take action and punish on the fourth offence. In Peter’s mind, forgiving seven times seemed perfect – going beyond even what he thought God would do. But Jesus said, not even seven times, but every time, without limit. There is no instance in which we may withhold forgiveness from anyone.
Secondly, we must forgive from the depths of the heart. We are not speaking simply about juridical forgiveness. Many people in life seem to forgive those who have hurt them, and life appears to carry on as usual. But deep in their hearts, they cannot let go of the pain caused by betrayal, wounded feelings, or damage to their reputation. They carry these wounds – consciously or unconsciously – deep in their hearts. So, even if they claim to have forgiven, or worse, never offered forgiveness but continue life as if nothing happened, the hurt remains. Over time, these wounds will fester; and with further misunderstandings, due to the lack of trust and reactive pain, the injuries will just accumulate and the situation worsens.
Why should we forgive every time, and from the heart? The truth is that forgiveness is not only for the person who has hurt us – it is primarily for ourselves. We need to forgive so that we can receive the complete forgiveness from God. It is true that when we ask for forgiveness, the Lord forgives us unconditionally. But if we do not, in turn, render forgiveness to those who have hurt us, we are still not fully liberated. God can only liberate us from the guilt of our sins, but He cannot free us from a hardened heart that refuses to forgive our enemies. So long as we hold on to resentment, we continue to bear the pain of anger, vindictiveness and self-pity. Such people cannot be happy, for their spirits remain imprisoned by past hurts. So, if we want to receive full and total forgiveness, we must first to be forgiven by God – so that, having received His unconditional mercy, we may be moved to extend the same spirit of forgiveness to others.
This is precisely what the parable of the unforgiving servant teaches. He received forgiveness but would not extend it to his fellow servant. Although he owed the master a sum beyond imagination, he would not forgive the small debt owed to him. This explains why he was not released from his pain. As the Lord said, “‘I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?’ And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debts.”
Secondly, we forgive so that we can be healed of our pain. Forgiveness is the first step toward healing both the heart and the memory. Forgiving our neighbour is essential for the total healing of the person. Bearing grudges and harbouring resentment are the root cause of many illnesses; when the mind and heart are sick, the body will also suffer. So, if we want to be healed and not just forgiven, we must forgive, as Jesus said, from our heart. When the heart truly forgives, complete healing takes place because the past no longer holds power over that person. This explains why St Paul reminds us never to let the sun set on our anger, lest we give the devil a foothold in our hearts. (cf Eph 4:26f)
But how can we forgive all the time and from the heart? Certainly, not by our strength. This is what the first reading reminds us: only in God’s strength can we overcome our enemies, just as the Israelites did. Without God’s intervention, they would never have been able to overcome their enemies or cross the hurdles on their way to the Promised Land. Joshua said, “By this you shall know that a living God is with you and without doubt will expel the Canaanite. Look, the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, is about to cross the Jordan at your head. As soon as the priests with the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, have set their feet in the waters of the Jordan, the upper waters of the Jordan flowing down will be stopped in their course and stand still in one mass.”
So how can we forgive if not by remembering the wonders of the Lord? This remembrance was always the foundation of Israel’s faith. They would recount the deeds of the Lord, especially in the face of danger, as in the responsorial psalm: “When Israel came forth from Egypt, Jacob’s sons from an alien people, Judah became the Lord’s temple, Israel became his kingdom. The sea fled at the sight: the Jordan turned back on its course, the mountains leapt like rams and the hills like yearling sheep. Why was it, sea, that you fled, that you turned back, Jordan, on your course? Mountains, that you leapt like rams, hills, like yearling sheep?” Whenever they remembered and recounted the events at Exodus, or when the Jordan ceased flowing so they could cross, they knew that God was with them at every stage of their lives. When we reflect on the wonders He has done for us, we too can be generous to those who are worse off. Surely, we can spare what we have and be magnanimous, since He has been so kind to us in so many ways.
We, too, must reflect and contemplate His love and mercy, especially in Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. When we consider how much Christ has suffered and died for us out of His love and mercy, we cannot help but thank God for His boundless compassion. When we reflect on our sins, ingratitude, and all the wrongs we have done – hurting the heart of Jesus – we too will learn to forgive those who have hurt us. The offenses we have committed against God are incomparable to the injuries our fellow men may inflict. God, who loves us deeply, suffered the most, because to love is to suffer, since love calls us to identify with those we cherish. We, too, are called to identify ourselves with the Lord and choose to forgive, so that we may set others free to love, just as the Lord has set us free. Reflecting on His love and mercy, especially in His passion and in the Eucharist, gives us the strength and courage to forgive. Finally, let us remember: if we have the audacity to ask for divine forgiveness, we must also be ready to offer human forgiveness. Otherwise, the same judgment given to the unforgiving servant will be passed on to us. The Lord will say to us, “You wicked servant!” So, let us forgive simply because He has forgiven us -always, and from His heart.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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