Infinite Forgiveness, Infinite Relationships!

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Ez 12: 1-12; Mt 18: 21-19:1

Today’s Gospel highlights that infinite forgiveness calls for infinite relationships. 

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant follows an interesting question from Peter: ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’

When Peter appears to be generous because he mentions forgiving others seven times, Jesus offers the corrective. The Lord did not say, ‘Forgiving someone seven times is enough.’ Instead, he raises the bar, saying, ‘Not seven times but seventy-seven times.’ By mentioning the number seventy-seven, Jesus underlines an infinite and endless attitude of mercy.

Through his answer, Jesus cautions against a mindset that treats human relationships strictly like a math problem. For Jesus, relationships cannot be reduced to mathematics. In addition, Jesus’ answer offers an important insight into relationships. For Jesus, endless forgiveness calls for endless relationships. 

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant also underlines the same idea. By forgiving the immense debt of the servant, the Master not only forgave the servant’s unpayable debt but also affirmed the continuation of the relationship. However, by not forgiving his fellow servant’s much smaller amount, the unmerciful servant reveals that he learned nothing from his Master’s magnanimity or relationality. The mercilessness of the unforgiving servant results in his eventual punishment.

Through the Master’s mercy and forgiveness, Jesus highlights God’s own. Jesus wishes that God’s measure of forgiveness and generosity would become ours too. Though what we owe God can never be repaid, God does not let such debt affect our relationship with Him. Instead, He remains ever open to a relationship with us. Jesus wants us to inherit the infinite mercy of God.

Let us pray that we may build more relationships through our mercy and reconciliation. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar