for August 13
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time

The historical context for today’s first reading is that the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people occurred in two phases. The prophet Ezekiel went with the first exiled group, but the city of Jerusalem is still standing and somewhat inhabited. He is warning those with him about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the definitive exile. All the people are described as rebellious against the Lord; they have eyes and ears, but do not see or hear, because they have rejected the prophets and their message. This is likely the only lesson for us in this passage.

There follows a symbolic action as during the day he prepares baggage as for exile with the people looking on and moves somewhere; then in the evening with the people still looking on he goes through a hole in a wall he has made and entered as it were into darkness with his face covered out of shame. When asked the next day for the meaning of his actions, he responds it is a sign concerning Jerusalem and its people. Finally, he refers to their prince sneaking out of the city; he doesn’t call Zedekiah a king probably because he was installed by the Babylonians. Interestingly enough, Zedekiah was caught, and he really was in darkness because his captors blinded him.

The gospel finds Peter asking about the extent of human forgiveness. He is in favor of forgiveness and seems to think that forgiving someone seven times is generous, but Jesus counters with seventy-seven times, though what Peter thinks of that we are not told. Note this is not indifference to sin but presumes initiative on the part of the offender. Jesus then offers a parable about what the kingdom of God is like. Remember that a parable often has one main point with the details not necessarily forming an allegory.

There is a king whose servant owes him a huge amount. We are told the servant cannot pay him back and so the king decides to sell the debtor and his family into slavery, an acceptable practice back then. The servant kneels before the king, asks for patience, and promises to pay him back (even though we know he cannot do so). The king is compassionate and cancels the debt! Then that servant meets another servant who owes him a much smaller amount. This second servant also kneels, asks for patience, and promises to pay him back. His plea is rejected, and he is imprisoned.

The other servants are deeply disturbed and report what happened to the king.  He then summons the first servant back, labels him as wicked, and asks the obvious question about why he did not have pity on his fellow servant as he the king had pity on him, even without mentioning the significant discrepancies in the amounts owed. The king then is angry and hands the servant over to be tortured.

The conclusion that our heavenly Father is like the king reminds us this is a parable and that our God is not into torturing us. What is being taught is the limitless forgiveness God offers and how in response we are to forgive others as we pray in the Our Father.
—Edward T. O’Donnell SJ

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.