Gospel Reflection: Mt 18:21-35

Gospel: Mt 18:21-35
Event: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 11, 2011)

Pericope:
"This how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart"

Reflection:

Apologizing isn't forced, so does forgiveness. It is a voluntary work and like what the passage says, it comes from your heart. When these things are forced, that won't do anything better to the relationship that has broken, because it's not sincere and both parties don't like it. It may appear like you're doing it because you don't want your image degraded or because you want a second round. Not only that, but forced apologies/forgiveness happen when the other party require them to do so, only making the situation worse.

These things are common to political people, celebrities and even to us and our neighbors. These things start when someone tend to say little things that offended another one, and that person who's offended say stuff like "we're offended and we want you to apologize". That type of apology is designed to humiliate the person and teach them a lesson that what they did/said was wrong, even though sometimes it's really not.

Another thing is when someone does scandalous things or says bad things to another one then ask for apologies but end up doing them again. It's not sincere, because if you really meant that apology, you won't do it again. It's the type of apology used because you're supposed to do it or because you want to protect your public image.

Forced apologies are the same with forced forgiveness. We all know that we should forgive each other and move on to what happened. But forgiveness is not an instant decision made. It takes a gradual process and should be thought of carefully. If you forgive someone right away and doesn't like it, that person will assume that things are ok between you and him/her. And it would come a time  that you keep recalling and remembering that fight that you two had and probably, you would always get mad at him/her easily, which most likely will be turned into another fight.

That's how insincere apologies or forgiveness can be turned into another fight or misunderstanding. and that's why we should avoid blame and take time to think before we start to apologize and forgive someone.

(i got eight over ten for this)