Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness runs contrary to conventional wisdom. The old adage is Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. We are often willing to allow people a second chance, but we never forget the hurt they caused. In todays Gospel, Jesus tells Peter he is to forgive seventy times seven, or seventy-seven times, depending on the version of scripture being read. Regardless, Jesus approach is far more radical than giving people a second chance. He advocates a forgiveness that is so encompassing and so dynamic, it forgets any prior hurts and continually restores the relationship. There are those who would say such forgiveness is unhealthy; that we need boundaries and protection. Jesus reminds us of our own forgiveness, and essentially says, The forgiven forgive.
