http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/07/parable-of-the-unmerciful-debtor-it-is-all-about-imitation-text-audio-homily/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Fri, 24 May 2013 18:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/07/parable-of-the-unmerciful-debtor-it-is-all-about-imitation-text-audio-homily/comment-page-1/#comment-4204 Deborah Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:38:38 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2417#comment-4204 "and the insignificance of the debt of others to me...." I should have said "the <em>comparative</em> insignificance of the debt of others..."  There are those who have been hurt enormously by others and whose own sins seem small in comparison.  But the comparison between the unmerciful servant's debts (and my debts) to the Master and the small debt owed by the fellow servant is not really about the relative magnitude and multitude of my sins and those who sin against me.  It is about the enormity of God's forgiveness in delivering me from sin and death. No sin against me, no matter how large and terrible can compare to that. "and the insignificance of the debt of others to me…."
I should have said "the comparative insignificance of the debt of others…"  There are those who have been hurt enormously by others and whose own sins seem small in comparison.  But the comparison between the unmerciful servant's debts (and my debts) to the Master and the small debt owed by the fellow servant is not really about the relative magnitude and multitude of my sins and those who sin against me.  It is about the enormity of God's forgiveness in delivering me from sin and death. No sin against me, no matter how large and terrible can compare to that.

]]> http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/07/parable-of-the-unmerciful-debtor-it-is-all-about-imitation-text-audio-homily/comment-page-1/#comment-4203 Deborah Sun, 08 Aug 2010 02:50:07 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2417#comment-4203 <em>Father, Bless, </em>   I know it's no excuse, but when you have been a poor debtor for all of your life, a hundred pence can seem like ten thousand talents.  But my perceptions and feelings don't alter the Reality that I can only be forgiven to the degree to which I am able to forgive.     I have lived a lifetime blaming all those that owe me paltry sums for my own massive debt to the Master.  If they would just quit taking money from me, I could pay the Master. (i.e. if they did not trouble and tempt me, I would not be so sinful). My own debts to others were small in comparison to what was owed me---<em>or so it seemed to me</em>.  Yet it turns out that whatsoever I did or did not do to the least of these, I did or did not do to Him---and each debt to my brother was counted as debt to the Master.  But He does not allow me to pay Him back with money I collect from my fellow servants.  No, if I do not wish to cancel all debts then I must pay off the debt the hard way--by sweat and blood in the prison of suffering.  Here, as I work off each penny, I begin to understand the enormity of my debt in a real and tangible way.  I begin to learn the true value of money and that the small debts I am owed are nothing in comparison to what I must now pay.  Forgiveness starts looking like a pretty good idea....   Forgiveness is the key to being released from debtor's prison where I sit, chained together with my 'family'---my desires and their sinful children.  And it is the key to releasing those I have locked away.  When I truly realize the enormity of my debt to the Master and the insignificance of the debt of others to me, I will be set free. Father, Bless,

 
I know it's no excuse, but when you have been a poor debtor for all of your life, a hundred pence can seem like ten thousand talents.  But my perceptions and feelings don't alter the Reality that I can only be forgiven to the degree to which I am able to forgive.  
 
I have lived a lifetime blaming all those that owe me paltry sums for my own massive debt to the Master.  If they would just quit taking money from me, I could pay the Master. (i.e. if they did not trouble and tempt me, I would not be so sinful). My own debts to others were small in comparison to what was owed me—or so it seemed to me.  Yet it turns out that whatsoever I did or did not do to the least of these, I did or did not do to Him—and each debt to my brother was counted as debt to the Master.  But He does not allow me to pay Him back with money I collect from my fellow servants.  No, if I do not wish to cancel all debts then I must pay off the debt the hard way–by sweat and blood in the prison of suffering.  Here, as I work off each penny, I begin to understand the enormity of my debt in a real and tangible way.  I begin to learn the true value of money and that the small debts I am owed are nothing in comparison to what I must now pay.  Forgiveness starts looking like a pretty good idea….
 
Forgiveness is the key to being released from debtor's prison where I sit, chained together with my 'family'—my desires and their sinful children.  And it is the key to releasing those I have locked away.  When I truly realize the enormity of my debt to the Master and the insignificance of the debt of others to me, I will be set free.

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