Am I meant to be a Doormat?

Thursday 12 August 2010 – Holy Communion at St Giles

Reading Ezekiel 12

The Exile Symbolized

¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

³ "Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. ⁴ During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. ⁵ While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. ⁶ Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."

⁷ So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

⁸ In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: ⁹ "Son of man, did not that rebellious house of Israel ask you, 'What are you doing?'

¹⁰ "Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.' ¹¹ Say to them, 'I am a sign to you.'
       "As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.

¹² "The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.

Gospel Matthew 18

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?"

²² Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' ²⁷ The servant's master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

²⁹ "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

³⁰ "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive a brother or sister from your heart."

¹ When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. ² Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Rev – Tom Hollander played Mr Collins in Pride & Prejudice – like playing clergy – suggested and co-wrote Rev. Everything exaggerated. Things happen fast. Each episode took a theme – evangelical take-over – parents trying to get children into C of E schools – the position of clergy in the community etc.

Comedy is like that. Things are out of all proportion – larger than life – exaggerated to make a point. That way, it is memorable.

It’s the same with parables. This one started with a simple question. Someone had upset Peter. He had forgiven them. Then they had done the same again, and again. What should be do? How many times was he expected to forgive?

7 is a magic number. 7 times? No – Jesus says. Seventy times 7 – or 77 times - the Greek can be translated either way. That’s very different from the Law in Leviticus, where after a few tries at reconciliation the whole community would end up excommunicating a recalcitrant sinner.

But Jesus’ story is memorable because it is so unbelievable. To forgive 77 times is a huge number. It’s the same as saying you always forgive, and keep on forgiving with no time limit.

The King, in the story is God. He writes off an enormous loan of 10,000 gold talents. An inconceivable amount. An impossible sum lent to a servant. Those who heard the tale would laugh out loud in disbelief.

The point of the parable is that God freely, recklessly and endlessly forgives, however huge the sins, regardless of their magnitude and how long they are repeated.

Our debtors are nothing by comparison. A few hundred silver coins – a substantial sum, but nothing like 10,000 bags of gold. It’s all told to illustrate the teaching, and to ensure we remember it. God forgives recklessly through his grace. We must do likewise – again, and again and again.