Do we know the meaning of the words "mercy and compassion"? Some of us say we know the meaning of such words, but we do not put them to practice. We ask for mercy and compassion when we are in trouble or when we have done something wrong, but how many of us actually, wholeheartedly and willingly practice mercy and compassion towards others?
In today's Gospel, the
first servant had had his debt cancelled and he was
allowed to go free. But this servant obviously did not appreciate the
generosity of his master. He did not know the meaning of the words "mercy and compassion" and thought that he had been given a lucky
break. Instead of learning from his master
and showing mercy and compassion towards his fellow servant by cancelling his fellow servant's
debt, he became mean, arrogant and nasty towards his fellow servant, and
even had his fellow servant thrown into prison. In
the end, this first servant ended up in prison himself, and his
master in anger and disgust "handed him over to the torturers till he
should pay all his debt."
When we are in trouble and have done something wrong, we ask God for mercy and compassion, but do we do the same towards others just as God has done to us? May we not end up in prison just like that unforgiving servant, as Jesus cautions
us: "And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you
each forgive your brother from your heart."
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