February 25 - Shadowman
February 25
Shadowman
Bible Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Instruction About Forgiveness
21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
A SHADOWY IMAGE appears on the television screen. His voice warbles oddly, and a line of type scrolls across the bottom of the screen: Manny (not his real name) is speaking on condition of anonymity. His image and voice have been altered to protect his identity.
"I had it made. Money, car, apartment in town, house in the suburbs. I'd gotten into a little debt-OK, so it was a lot. Millions. I'd kinda 'borrowed' it from the company, if you know what I mean."
The shadowy figure shifts in his chair. "My boss found out, told his boss. Eventually it got all the way to the top. So the owner of the company called me in, told me he wanted the money I took. I says, 'I ain't got it right now. But I'll pay it back, honest.'
"Then he tells me he could send me away for a very long time and have my family thrown out into the street. I told him, 'Look, I'll do anything. I'll pay back every cent--with interest. All's I need is a little time.'
"The big boss stared at me for a long time, not sayin' nothin'. Finally he says, 'Tell you what. I'll give you a break. I'll forget all about the money. You walk outta here a free man. Just don't try somethin' like that again.'
"I couldn't believe it! He let me off the hook--" the man snapped his fingers "just like that! I walked outta his office like I was walkin' on air!
"When I got out into the boss's reception area, I saw Mike Kennedy, a guy I used to work with. I says to Kennedy, 'I want the two thousand you owe me,' and he says, 'I can give you some now and the rest in a few weeks.' I says to Kennedy, 'That ain't good enough.' I told him if he didn't get all the money to me by the end of the day, I'd ruin him. I figured he had it--he was just holdin' out on me, you know?
"Well, it turns out the boss's secretary heard me talkin' to Kennedy, and next thing I know, the boss calls me back into his office. He says, 'Didn't I give you a break? a million-dollar break? But after I show mercy to you, you go out and refuse to have a little mercy on Kennedy. Well,' he says to me, 'the deal is off.' Next thing I know"--the camera pans out to show a background of prison bars behind the anonymous story teller--"I'm wearin' an orange jumpsuit and makin' license plates.
"Wanna know the funny part?" the man asks without a trace of humor in his voice. "Kennedy got my old job!"
REFLECT: What do you think the story above and Jesus' parable teach about the benefits of showing mercy to others?
PRAY: "God, You have forgiven me for so many sins. I ask you now to help me forgive _____________ for ____________________________ ."