“How many times must I forgive my brother for the offenses he commits against me?” With this question from Peter, Jesus introduces a parable that shows us the untiring value of forgiveness.
One of the aspects that stands out most is the king’s reaction to the plea of his servant: moved with compassion, he releases him and forgives his entire debt. Many were witnesses to this great act of mercy on the part of the king. Yet the servant’s attitude, as soon as he went out, was entirely the opposite toward a fellow servant who owed him very little.
Faced with this situation, the witnesses of both scenes are not indifferent to the suffering of others and intervene, reporting everything to the king. He then puts a key question to the servant: “Should you not have had mercy on your companion, just as I had mercy on you?”
Saint Magdalene used to say that “one Our Father sets everything right.” As we pray, let us remember the abundant mercy of God the Father, who welcomes us back more than seventy times seven in a single day.
Forgiving seventy times seven
