Welcome to our Sunday Worship on the 14th Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find a Gospel reading, reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn this morning is "A New Commandment I Give Unto You"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 18: 21-35 The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Reflection
Last week, we looked at how we should approach and deal with someone who we believe has wronged us and potentially broken our trust. I concluded by drawing a distinction between retribution and forgiveness. That is to say, sometimes when a crime has been permitted it may be necessary to punish a person, be that a period in prison or some form of compensation; what is commonly referred to as restorative justice. However, it does not prevent us from exercising grace and forgiving the person for their wrongdoings.
One of the most amazing examples was the case of Javika Wallace-Hawkins, whose 17 year old son Andre, was killed because the murderer mistakenly believed that Andre had been romantically involved with his former girlfriend Laurie Lundeberg, 50. The killer had also killed Laurie a few weeks earlier.
Javika astounded the court when at his sentencing she explained how the death of her son Andre had devastated her, and then told Rodriguez-Ortiz: ‘In order to get through this process, I had to forgive you and I forgive you from the bottom of my heart. I pray for you because as a mother, you’re a child to me.’
In this case the killer was sentenced to life imprisonment, but Javika’s capacity to show love and mercy was a shining example of how, when even the most heinous acts have been committed, we have the power to show mercy. A power that comes from our heart and the Holy Spirit. Think for a moment about the impact Javika’s mercy is having on the killer as he sits in jail for decades.
Peter tests this with Jesus. He is basically saying, Ok I get it, forgive those who transgress a few times but if they are seasoned offenders, how can we continue to forgive them? Why should we? At what point do we just give up on them?
But Jesus’ message is absolute – there is no limit to forgiveness. God’s capacity for forgiving us is unbounded and so should ours be, no matter how difficult that might be. Just as the actions of the first slave had an impact on him when the king found out, so too, our willingness or unwillingness to forgive will have good or bad consequences for us. Paul
Our Prayers
Most merciful Father,
There are times when we allow ourselves to consumed with anger.
Times when we feel justified in giving up on people.
We pray for forgiveness and the capacity in our hearts
to show the same grace and mercy that we ask of you.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "God Forgave My Sin in Jesus' Name (Freely, Freely)"
