Today’s readings at Mass are all about forgiveness and the mercy of God. Truly, the parable of the unforgiving servant is one of the most striking and unforgettable (I think) of any of Jesus’s parables.

That parable issues a stark warning. It provides the same warning as the Our Father: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

Forgiving others isn’t optional. It takes time. It requires copious amounts of grace (that we can always rely on God to provide). It doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to spend more time around the person who hurt us, especially if that person is still a danger to us or others, nor does it mean that we have to like that person.

But forgiveness does mean that we wish eternal salvation for those who wronged us. It means that we wish repentance and conversion for them, to whatever extent they are in need of those things. (Whenever I pray for conversion for others, I pray for the grace of continued conversion for myself as well, as a reminder that I am not better than anyone else and that I, too, am very much a sinner in need of repentance. We’re all built differently, and maybe some don’t need that reminder the way I do, but I need it.)

Honestly, I’m not really sure what else to say here. Forgiveness is such a difficult thing and such a work of God in us, I don’t know what else it’s possible for me to say.

Ideally, we want to experience the mercy of God for ourselves so that we can bring that same mercy into the lives of others in a radical way. That’s the call. That’s the mission. It’s a tall order. It’s tempting to be like that unforgiving servant!

However, when we truly experience God’s mercy, it humbles us. It fills us with joy. As a result of both of those things, by grace we want to let that mercy flow out of us onto others as well. May God increase that desire in all of us!