This Sunday, the Liturgy presents the parable of the unforgiving servant, taken from the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus highlights how everyone seeks understanding and forgiveness for themselves whilst applying a different standard to their neighbour. All this runs counter to the logic of the Gospel.
We are called to show compassion for our neighbour when they suffer the same afflictions we have experienced, abandoning the worldly logic of double standards.
For Francis of Assisi, compassion for a brother in difficulty, whether sick or facing any other problem, was a fundamental attitude that shaped his likeness to Christ.
We read of various episodes on this subject in the Sources.
We shall highlight one.
‘On another day during his preaching, a poor man, who was also infirm, came to the place where Francis was.
Feeling compassion for this man’s double misfortune—that is, poverty and illness—he began to speak with his companion about poverty.
He had already moved, in his regard for the sufferer, from pity to heartfelt affection, when his companion interrupted him:
«Yes, brother, he is poor, but perhaps there is no one in the whole province richer in desires».
The Saint rebuked him on the spot and ordered the companion, who was confessing his fault:
«Come now, quickly: take off your habit, kneel at the feet of the poor man and openly acknowledge your fault. And not only shall you ask him for forgiveness, but you shall also insist that he pray for you!»
The friar obeyed, and when he returned, having completed his penance, the Saint said to him:
«When you see a poor person, brother, the mirror of the Lord and of his poor Mother is set before you.
In the same way, in the sick, you must consider what infirmities he took upon himself for our sake!»
Truly, Francis always carried that small bundle of myrrh in his heart; he always gazed upon the face of his Christ; he always remained in contact with the Man of Sorrows, who knows all suffering (FF 672).
«You wicked servant! I forgave you that entire debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?» (Mt 18:32–33)
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A (Mt 18:21–35)
