11th Sunday of Mathew - Mercy and debt
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; (1 Samuel 22:2)
Debt is a big, no a HUGE problem in America. We hear on the news every day almost horror stories about families having tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt. Most of this debt however goes not against food or basic needs of life but generally on what it is called "recreational shopping". I just read recently on a lady that because she was not happy with her life accomplishments managed to buy, in a four year span about "300 pairs of shoes, two trips to Europe, several pairs of designer jeans, $600 at an auction and lots of jewelry." And, of course she could not afford any of that. She eventually ended up with an 85'000 $ in high interest credit card debt, growing exponentially every year.
Stories like this are very frequent. What we do not hear very often though is stories about people getting successfully out of debt. There are however few stories like this. One of them is in today's gospel.
The debtor we will refer to today had an enormous debt. If we would to convert in US currency the amount would rise up to 7 billion dollars, or 470 tons of gold. No one person can accumulate such debt. Yet his debts were forgiven by his king and he was given a second chance to start fresh, debt free, a new life of full responsibility. One can only imagine the feeling he must have had inside when this unseen forgiveness happened to him.
One would have also assumed that he would like to share his joy and act accordingly to all his debtors. Surprisingly he decides that he does not want to share, he want to have it all for himself and proves unforgiving with one of his small time debtors that was owing him the meager sum of 100 dollars. By this simple selfish gesture he manages to lose everything. His debt is brought up again and he is thrown in jail with a life sentence, or until he pays the debts, which are basically the same, because no one can pay the debt out of jail.
What is the spiritual meaning of all this? Well the huge debt represents the debt of sin of all mankind, the sin accumulated in centuries of paganism and disobedience to the creator. Sin built up solely in the search for pleasure, a sort of compulsive shopping if you want. The King that takes the debt upon Him is Jesus Christ that, "moved with compassion" died on the Cross in order to wipe out the sin of the world. He is the only one that could have paid this terrible debt. No other Man could have done it, only the One that is in the same time God and Man had the power to do it.
But in doing this all merciful act He expected one thing, only one thing: "mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you". All he asked is reciprocity: I forgive you, you should forgive the other. The same thing is said in the Lord's Prayer: "and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us".
Story about the one who could not forgive: and do not forgive us our trespasses as we don not forgive those who trespass against us.
Our whole life we accumulate spiritual debt. This is the sin. We sin every day and this debt accumulates with terrible consequences on our souls. There is no way we can pay this debt. It can only be wipe out, cleaned and forgiven by the Lord. He has left on this earth the necessary means to accomplish this.
Let me give you the 5 steps of getting out of sin and start a responsible spiritual life:
- 1. Assess the damage: first thing we need to do is acknowledge our debt, realize how much wrong we have done. Accept the truth that we are sinners. Acknowledge that we are weak and poor in virtues and we cannot pay our debt. This is the first step
- 2. Seek help: come to Church, speak with your spiritual Father if you have one or, if not, find one. Come in repentance and take confession, confess all your sins not leaving anything aside, show remorse and commit that you will never go back to sin. Confession is like a second Baptism. We are given a second fresh start. Try not to waste it.
- 3. Repent and ask for mercy. Once we've acknowledge our debt and we found help we need to humble ourselves and ask for mercy. Mercy is a very interesting and powerful word. When asking for mercy two things happen: we ask forgiveness and in the same time we recognize our unworthiness. One asks for mercy only when one knows is not fit to ask for anything, when he has no right in asking but yet he asks hoping in the other party generosity. This is why we ask in Church unceasingly "Kyrie eleyson", Lord have mercy. When using these words we acknowledge that all that is good comes from God. We are not able to do anything; we cannot become anything without His power, His Love and His will to save us.
- 4. Embark in a new responsible life. If one wants to get out of debt needs to start a financially responsible life: One needs to have a plan, a budget and stick to it like his life depends on it. This happens with our spiritual life. There is no other way to do stay out of trouble. Once our debts are forgiven through the sacrament of Confession, we need to follow a prayer program that is set together with the Father Confessor. This is what is called the "epitimia", which is not to be perceived as a punishment. We cannot pay for our sins; they can only be washed away by the Lord. Epitimia is rather a regimen of life and prayer that will keep us safe from now on. One does not need to do much, but must be perseverant and stay with the course no matter how many temptations knock on the door.
- 5. Reciprocate Spread the love. Be Apostles of the Merciful Lord. Show other what Christian life is all about, be living testimony that forgiveness defeats blame, goodness conquers evil and overall love triumphs over hate.
Let us all embark in this spiritual program and get out of our debt of sin, so we can all partake in the love of the Trinity without fear of condemnation, becoming responsible citizens of the Kingdom to come, worshiping and thanksgiving our triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amin!