Forgiveness belongs to the non-countable category

 

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

19^th Week – Thursaday

Gospel – Matthew 18: 21-19:1

Sts Hippolytus and Pontianus

 

Forgiveness belongs to the non-countable category

Forgiveness can't be counted and given

1) Non Countable Things in Life

There are many things in our day today life which do not belong to the countable category.

• We don't ask how many times I can breath per day 
• We don't ask how many times I can see the beauty of the nature
• We don't ask how many times I can hear per day 
• We don't ask how many times I can think per day 
• We don't ask how many times I can smile per day 

These are few examples to show that there things which do not belong to the countable category

2) Forgiveness belongs to the Non Countable category

Peter asks how many times he has to forgive his brother. To this question Jesus does not give answer saying that He has to forgive this many times. So it is clear that forgiveness belongs to the category of non-countable. 

In fact there is no count in making our confessions. Only the law of the church tells us that at least once a year we need to confess. That is minimum. The Church does not say the maximum number to times that one needs to confess 

Every time when we go for confession we are forgiven without any measure. Freely the forgiveness is given without any measure. 

So it is very clear that forgiveness belongs to the non-countable category.

3) Spiritual Things can't be counted and Given

Only material things are counted and given. Spiritual things can't be counted and given 

Forgiveness belongs to the spiritual category. So it can't be counted 

Likewise other spiritual things such as, peace, happiness, joy, generosity, sacrifice, adjustment, cooperation, all these belong to the spiritual category, which can't be counted 

4) One who counts the forgiveness blocks the mercy of God to His own life

Counting of forgiveness makes the person to block the inflow of God's mercy to his own life 

The moment one counts the forgiveness is the indication that he is not ready to forgive others more than certain times 

The unforgiving attitude leads the person to block God's mercy to his life. 

So counting forgiveness is equal to saying to God, You forgive me only 5 times or You bless me only 7 times. That is how the calculation goes 

5) We don't want others to count the forgiveness and blessings when it matters to us

We expect others to bless us uncountable times 

We expect others to forgive us uncountable times 

We expect others to adjust with us evey time without any measure

If so the same logic also applies to my life. 

6) Seventy-seven times is a phrase for uncountable thing

Jesus uses this phrase to show the importance of forgiveness and also the nature of forgiveness.

Seventy seven times or seventy times seven refers to the uncountable number one has to forgive others 

This is the nature of forgiveness. 

Am I ready to follow this logic in my life?

When I follow this logic in my life God follows this logic for my life. That is the beauty of this logic 

7) Sts Hippolytus and Pontianus

First one was a priest and second one was a Pope 

Both were martyrs. 

Hippolytus means "A horse turned loose" was a learned priest in Rome and the most important Theological Writer of his time. 

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore