Sermon: The Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 13, 2026

Proper 19

Barbara Marshall

Matthew 18:21-35

Theme is Forgiveness

Learning to forgive is hard, but once we recognize how much God has forgiven us, it becomes a Christian act of gratitude.

In today’s Gospel Reading from Matthew, the message is about forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts that the Church provides for each of us. The past cannot be changed. So when we are wronged, we are going to have to come to terms with the past. We will either be bitter, angry, and damaged by the moment, or we will discover the divine resource that enables us to automatically and genuinely forgive the other.

The disciple Peter felt that there should be a limit in regards to forgiveness: and Jesus simply said, “No!” Forgiveness is unlimited. The parable in today’s reading explained why this is the case. The slave owed the lord the equivalent of almost two years entire tax revenue of Judea, Idumea, and Samaria. (The numbers owed were determined by the Roman historian Josephus). The slave was forgiven. Then the slave made the massive mistake of not treating another as he had been treated. He threw the person into prison until he could pay what he owed to the slave.

It is obvious that the slave didn’t appreciate how kindly his master had treated him.

God has given much to each of us. We should be ready and willing to forgive those who hurt us.

I am sure many of us have had experiences with forgiveness. About 20 years ago I was introduced to the problems related to drug addiction. I was frightened and concerned as I observed someone I loved make poor decisions. I tried to help but everything tried failed to make a difference. While doing some research, I learned of a program called Families Anonymous. I found a group that met at a church in Clinton Township and decided to attend a meeting. I cried through most of my first meeting. The stories I heard were very frightening. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to attend another meeting. However, I decided to continue attending hoping to learn how I could help our addict and perhaps others. Instead, the focus was to be on myself. The concept was hard to grasp at first.

I learned to forgive and forget. I had no power to change any addict. My reactions needed changing. Paying jail fines wasn’t the answer. Forcing an addict to go to meetings seeking recovery wasn’t my responsibility. Preaching wasn’t the answer. I learned I can only change myself. It’s up to the addict to change their ways. I had to forget the fear and ache of former times and focus on what was positive and hopeful. I had to let go of the sleepless nights, the chaos and confusion, the violence and the terror of addiction. I could change myself but not an addict. Can all of this be forgotten? No, but I can continue putting forth effort to forgive and forget.

My husband Dave’s mom set an amazing example of forgiveness for our family and many neighbors and friends. Ruth had a heart that put others before herself. An elderly man lived across the road from Dave’s family home. Oliver had no family. He was aging and needed some help. Ruth and Earl Marshall invited Oliver into their home. They turned the living room over to him and set it up like a bedroom. One day, Ruth was busy knitting on a couch in another room. Oliver, for some unknown reason, approached Ruth with the gun pointing right at her. She was shot but fortunately survived because she put her left hand up to her breast where Oliver pointed. She lost her thumb and two fingers, plus her left breast. Oliver then went into a back area of the home and shot and killed himself. Ruth was fortunate to survive. Despite having only her third and fourth fingers left, she continued knitting and crocheting until the age of 100. There was a small funeral planned for Oliver and Ruth insisted the family go to his funeral while she was in the hospital. She was a wonderful example of true forgiveness.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on a few biblical quotes that pertain to forgiveness.

• “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

• “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, and so God forgives us.”

• Peter asks Jesus, “Lord if someone sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”

• Jesus says, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” “Or some scholars say seventy-times seven.” Either way the number is huge.

Now let us take a moment and reflect on some scenarios and think of how we might respond to them.

• You say something embarrassing about yourself to a friend who promises to keep the information confidential. However, the friend breaks his or her promise and proceeds to tell several people. What is the likelihood that you would choose to forgive your friend?

• A family member humiliates you in front of others by sharing a story about what you did not want anyone to know. What is the likelihood that you would choose to forgive the family member?

• A stranger breaks into your house and steals a substantial sum of money from you. What is the likelihood that you would choose to forgive the stranger?

I am sure many of us do realize forgiving others is not easy. It can be stressful as we struggle to forgive. However, we are all utterly dependent on the unconditional, unmerited grace and mercy of Christ, who has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.

According to Rev. Joseph S. Pagano, “Forgiveness may very well be a character strength and virtue. It probably does contribute to leading good and happy lives. Saints like Peter probably do score quite high on the Forgiveness Likelihood Scales. But Jesus reminds us, when it comes to our ability and need to forgive, we are, all of us, to use our strength to forgive as we kneel at the cross. Jesus will be our guide to forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen!

Resources for this sermon:

Sermon written by the Rev. Joseph S. Pagano Year A 2020

The Bible

Lectionary Levity – pages79-80 By Markham and Gottlich

Personal stories