True forgiveness aims at understanding the Master's Heart, and turns slaves into kin.

Traversing Emmaus

Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in Our Lad Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone, Qld.

"Mere creature of flesh... Remember the last things, and stop hating, remember dissolution and death, and live by the commandments. Remember the commandments, and do not bear your neighbour ill-will; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the offence." (cf. Eccl 28).

"It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion." (cf. Ps 103).

"The life and death of each of us has its influence on others... [which is] why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." (cf. Rom 14).

"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; [the others] 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." (cf. Mt 18).

Artwork: "Parable of the Wicked Servant" by Domenico Fetti, (c. 1620).