In today's gospel, we see Jesus telling a story of a servant who owed his master "10,000 talents." Jesus -- without doing the exact math -- calls this "a huge amount." Let is see how really "huge" this amount is. Just one "talent" is those days was worth of 66 lbs of gold.
Let us fast-forward to our day: In today's gold market value, gold is going between $1697.90 to $1766.11 per ounce. If there are 16 ounces in a pound, then one pound of gold is worth in today's market $27,166.40. Additionally, if there are 66 lbs in one talent, then one talent is worth today $1,792,982.40. Therefore, "10,000 talents" would be worth exactly: $17,929,824,000.00
Jesus is saying a lot in this parable. Here are a few points He seems to want to make:
1) We all owe a huge amount to God in atonement for our sins. This is so because when a sin is commited against someone, the amount of the greatness of that very offense depends on "against Whom" we have sinned against. Example: If there is a pub-room brall and you punch someone in the face, you may get arrested and spend two days in jail. But if you merely bump into the President of the US with intentions to do him harm, you get two years in jail. Why...because harming the President is a Federal Offense contingent on the importance of the person of the President to National Security. Likewise, if some American citizen were to go infront of the Iman of Pakinstan and burn the Koran in front of him, that American's citizen's apology would do little to make up for the offense. Rather, it would have to be our President who would send his apology to make up for that insulting action of an American citizen did against the Iman. So, too, our offense against God -- even little sins -- are "infinite and eternal acts against God" because God is an Infinite and Eternal Being. So, who can opologize to God for our infinite offenses? Only a God-man can apologize and atone for our sins. Only God is on the level of God. That is exacty what Jesus did! That is why Jesus said that our sins was owing God "a huge" amount. In Confession, Jesus forgives all our debt just as the Master forgave the servant our of compassion. But we must forgive others to receive this forgiveness.
2) Our sins will not be forgiven unless we forgive our fellow servants who have offended us. Jesus says this in this parable and in the Our Father. Did you notice that Jesus -- in this case of the servant whose "huge" amount was forgiven entirely because he could not pay just as none of us can pay our huge deb to God -- that this servant's "huge debt" was re-instated when the Master found out that this servant did NOT forgive the small amount owed to him from a fellow servant. This is scary...because even when we have been forgiven of all our sins...if we do not forgive those who have hurt us, then the punishment -- atonement of our sins -- will be re-instated too. "Once forgiven - always forgiven" is the misnomer just as the false maxim that says: "Once saved, always saved." Clearly Scripture has said that "if a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, then all the good he has done will not be remembered; and because of his sin, he will die." Of course if he turns again to God, then all his past merits for his good deeds done will also return to him. But understand this: no one will be forgiven unless he forgives his brothers and sisters from the heart.
3) Jesus on the cross has nailed our debts to the cross and erased them all. His Precious Blood has was us all clean. Jesus paid our debt of $17,929,824,000! Not only that..but like the good thief on the cross who repented...Jesus used all the sufferings and the sins of the good thief to let him steal heaven at the last minute. Jesus always has to use all confessed sins to our creative good. St. Paul said that: "Where sin abounds, grace abounds more."
4) God is the most creative Being in the cosmos and beyond. He is so Infinite that He can our infinite offenses against Him to our good. Why? Because: "All things work to good for those who love God."
5) We -- after Christ agony and death on the Cross to reconcile us to the Father -- are called to by the Father as He addresses Jesus and address Jesus in us...and addresses us: "This is my beloved son..in whom I am well pleased."
6) Since we owe God $17 Billion+ and cannot pay it unless He pays it for us, then we should forgive the pennies people owe us..those who hurt us..We must forgive them..because compared to our offense against God who did forgive us, these petty little hurts against us must be forgiven and dismissed..They man in the parable did not do that..and got his original debt of $ 17 Billion re-instated...hmmmm....there is a lesson here...
Peace and love, Pio
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