Jesus’ parable frustrated Peter and the disciples, as it
should frustrate us.
The
first servant was forgiven a large debt by his master. At one point I researched how much
money was actually forgiven and it was to the tune of millions of dollars!
Having
received a reprieve from this massive debt, the servant immediately went out to
someone who owed him money—for hundreds
of dollars. He was harsh,
demanding that it was paid back.
This servant did not get it—he
was shown mercy, but had none for others.
Today
is the memorial of St. Maxmillian Kolbe.
He acted exactly opposite of the foolish servant. He recognized that everything had been
given to him as a gift to God—including his own life—and gave everything to
serve God and neighbor in response.
Maxmillian
lived during the atrocious period of the Holocaust. He was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. One day a prisoner tried to escape so
the Nazi’s punished everyone as an example. They randomly selected ten prisoners who would be tortured
and eventually murdered. One of
the men selected pleaded with the SS guard, saying he had a wife and children
back home. Maxmillian volunteered
to take his place on the list of ten.
He ministered to the other nine individuals as they were first starved
and eventually injected with a lethal injection.
The
most frustrating part of Jesus’ parable is recognizing that we are often like
the foolish servant. God has given
us everything—life, mercy and love.
How quick you and I can be to judge others, gossip, hold grudges or be
uncharitable.
May
we, like St. Maxmillian, recognize all that God has given us and respond in
kind by being generous to God and neighbor.
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