Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

As an educator, I’ve noticed an interesting paradox in the classroom. In their best moments, my students express noble aims to their studies, conveying a desire to think deeply and wrestle with complex issues. Frequently however, when invited to engage in this kind of thinking, the response “just tell me the answer” inevitably arises. 

This paradox is not unlike Peter’s interaction with Jesus, asking Christ exactly how often he must forgive someone who has sinned against him. Yet Christ’s seemingly absurd response is an example of his craft as a teacher. His exaggeration is intentional, it is not a simple answer to the question, but a provocation to deeper thought.

Saint Ignatius echoes Christ’s invitation to this depth in his instructing of Jesuits to “apply themselves in the school of the heart.” Like most things in the Christian life, forgiveness cannot be learned or practiced as mere procedure. Jesus said that he was not only the truth, but the way. Let us pray for the grace to follow not only his words, but his path.

—Noah Banasiewicz, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic and lecturer in the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago. 

I am weak, and I need Thy strength and power
To help me over my weakest hour;
Let me through the darkness Thy face to see,
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.

Lead me, guide me along the way;
For if You lead me, I cannot stray;
Lord, let me walk each day with Thee.
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.

—“Lead Me, Guide Me” by Doris Akers