Today’s Gospel reminds us of the magnificent mercy and justice of God in the parable of the merciless servant. Jesus tells this parable when Peter asks how often he should forgive his brother and thinking he was being generous adds “As many as seven times?”
Jesus said, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Commentators state that this means unlimited forgiveness and mercy. But the King in the parable comes to settle accounts at the end of time. Mercy is shown but justice is also finally delivered.
This tension between mercy and justice is on full display in the Victor Hugo novel and Broadway musical called “Les Miserables.” The protagonist in both the novel and musical is Jean Valjean, a recently released convict. After 19 years of imprisonment for stealing bread to feed his sister and family, he was released from serving on the prison galleys. Bishop Myriel takes in the homeless ex-con when innkeepers turn him away because his identity papers reveal his past. Valjean steals the bishop’s silverware in the middle of the night, but when the gendarmes bring him back to the bishop’s palace, Myriel states that he had given Jean the silverware, and in addition, Jean had forgotten to take the two silver candlesticks that were meant for him. With this act of kindness and mercy, Valjean is released, and Bishop Myriel tells him that God has spared his life. Because of the charity of the Bishop, Jean Valjean is given a second chance, becomes a successful businessman and makes it a habit of helping the less fortunate. But Inspector Javert is lurking in the shadows seeking justice…the return of a prisoner for breaking parole.
The merciless servant owes 10,000 talents. A talent was the equivalent of more than 15 years of labor; therefore, he owes more than 150,000 years of labor or money. Realizing the size of the debt, the King commands that the man, his family, and property be sold to cover his debt. But the King relents when the servant falls on his knees and begs his king to have patience with him. The King has compassion on him, releases him and forgives him his enormous debt.
In contrast to the magnificent mercy showed to him, this merciless servant then goes out and demands repayment of 100 days of wages owed him by a fellow servant. He throttles him and throws him into a debtors’ prison until he can repay the last penny. Other servants report this injustice to the King and the merciless servant is handed over to the torturers until his own debt can be repaid. He is judged and called “wicked” not because of the debt that he could not pay, but because he does not show pity and mercy to the man who owes him a relative pittance. The King meted out justice because this man could not share the mercy he had received.
Many of us are like Inspector Javert, on the lookout for our neighbor’s or our brother’s faults against us and God. We are incapable of paying the debt of our sins against God. Look at the cross and forget the pittance that others owe you. Don’t let envy and pride prevent us from showing love and mercy to others. Let us remember that God alone is the judge. In answer to St. Peter’s question, Jesus says that unless we forgive from the depths of our heart, we will face the same fate as the merciless servant. Jesus continues “to instruct sinners in the way, guides the humble to justice and teaches the humble his way” (Ps 25:8,9).
Remember your magnificent mercy, O Lord! It endures forever! That is the Good News of today’s gospel!
