Saturday of the Third Week of Holy Lent

The Gospel according to St. Matthew (18:23-35)

”Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”“

    We say in the prayer of the Divine Liturgy that we were sold under the debts of our sins, of the death that had power over us. When Jesus came, He bought us and redeemed us from the death caused by the debts of our sins, as He erased the verdict that was on us, which was against us.

    This is how this king did to the indebted slave when he begged him. He had nothing, his wife,  his children and he should have been sold. And he had to pay something

    Since in fact, the reward of sin is death, by His death, Christ has repaid for us the debts of our sins. He is the only one capable of exterminating death, fulfilling the debts, and freeing the righteous.

    + This is the favor of Christ with each one.

    + It is our duty that we do not forget the favor of Who freed us from debts and released us from the prison of death and gave us the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

    + If we forget this fact, it makes us treat others as if they are really indebted, as if we have a right to demand, so we deviate from the serious truth.

    + The prisoner excuses his imprisoned brother, and the debtor feels the bitterness of another debtor like him.

    + What we have received and what we have taken from God must be reflected in our actions.

    + If our sins have been forgiven us, we should forgive sins and offer forgiveness.

    + And if we enjoy the love of God even though we are sinners, we should become loving to others.

    + And if we become without a debt before God, let us leave the debts of the debtors to us.

    And the opposite is true, if we treat others with cruelty, lack of love and non-forgiveness, what we have received will be removed from us. ”For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.“ James 2:13.

    With this parable, the Lord intended to warn us that the permanence of grace in our lives is subordined to the life of mercy towards others and its practice. But if we close our doors in the face of others, the doors of heaven will be closed in front of us, because by the same measure that we measure to others will be measured to us

    Give mercy to the abuser, pardon, forgive and let go. Compare the size of the debt you have against your brother with the debt that Christ has pardoned you and you will find it millions of times multiplied. He forgives you plenty , it's not a great deal if you forgive a little your brother.

    Keep the door of your heart open with mercy, so that the door of God's mercy will not close before you!!!

Fr. Louka Sidarous

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