Moe! Larry! … Matthew?

The Church within the context of forgiveness, from the Gospel according to St Matthew.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant, therefore, fell down before him saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’. So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” [Matthew 18:21-35]

Remembering the classic definition of Christ’s mission according to Orthodox Church Tradition – “Christ came to do two things: Establish a Church & destroy death” – Which do you see involved here?

ANSWER: The Church

The Church is our safe ship on the stormy sea. It is in the Church that we find forgiveness from God. We are brought into the family of God upon entry into the Church of Christ; yet the unfaithful servant, after gaining the Grace of God’s forgiveness, lost it all when he failed to forgive in return. We too can lose everything that we have been given (and forgiven) by God in that terrible moment when we refuse to forgive our debtors. We receive forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. We receive Grace in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. And in one moment, that moment when we turn our back, walk out on God, and demand of our debtors that which we have been forgiven — we lose it all. In the Orthodox Tradition, the Church is called the Kingdom of God on earth. Thus, when our Lord speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven we should also see therein a model for the Church, “the Kingdom of God on earth.”

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done —
on earth as it is in heaven.

Forgive us our trespasses
Forgive us our debts
Forgive us our sins …

As WE forgive …