Sixteenth Sunday - Pentecost • Year A

Historical Collect

O Lord, help your people to avoid the infection of the evil one, and with pure hearts to follow you, our only Lord. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)

Thematic Collect

Steadfast God, your mercy is everlasting and your forgiveness boundless. As we gather together and receive your word of forgiveness in the gospel proclaimed and the meal shared, renew us in the gift of baptism that we may be signs of reconciliation for the world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

God is able to turn evil into good. A perfect example of this is that he redeems our life from the pits of sin and death. The evil we did to his Son, he used for the good of us all. Does this mean we ought to do evil so that good will result? As the King James Version exclaims in response to a similar question, “God forbid” (Rom 6:2). We will all have to give an account for the lives we have lived, “whether good or evil” (2 Cor 5:10). Therefore, we ought to do the good thing when someone wrongs us; we ought to forgive them—each and every time. 

First Reading • Genesis 50:15-21

Joseph is the picture of what it means to forgive. Even though his brothers were still scheming all those years later, Joseph was humble. He could have held it over their heads. He could have taken off their heads. The latter is the power they feared, so they plotted against him again. They lied about their father’s last words. Joseph likely saw through this collusion but chose to forgive. It was easier for him to do so, knowing that God was in control—not his brothers. 

Psalm • Psalm 103:1-12

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut 6:5). The psalmist says it this way: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” We are to love and bless him with our entire being. But who can do so?

We all can do so. The psalmist does not demand perfect works, but leaves room for the iniquity that befalls us all. How we respond to our transgressions is a large part (perhaps the largest part) of how we bless God. Verse three reminds us that one of the many benefits we receive from God is forgiveness of sin. When we turn from evil back to God, he is blessed—by all that is within us.

Second Reading • Romans 14:1-12

It is easy to be right; just get in the last word. At least you will feel like you won the argument. There is a better way to get in the last word though, and by doing so, you will indeed be right—even righteous. Say, “I am sorry.” Say, “I forgive.” Do not say anything; sometimes silence speaks volumes. Quarreling is easy. The sort of forgiveness that silently withholds judgment is difficult. We will all give account of ourselves to God, and he will have the last word, after all. 

Gospel • Matthew 18:21-35

There is no reason to think Jesus is being hyperbolic in verse 35. He meant what he said. The conduct of the Christian community is to forgive since we have been forgiven (Matt 6:12). We cannot be forgiven when we do not forgive. This is not because God is not large enough to do so, but that we are not large enough in heart to receive what we have refused to give. Look back to the example of Joseph. We might argue he had every right to withhold forgiveness to his brothers. Yet, he forgave them over and over again, perhaps as much as “seventy times seven times” (Matt 18:22, KJV).