“a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount”
In today’s parable Jesus speaks of people owing debts. Debt is something that is common to man, but the burden that earthly debt can bring upon man is nothing compared the eternal debt of sin. The debt of Adam and Eve’s original sin is a debt that is passed on to all humanity.
What is true about the debt of sin? First, it was a debt that was accrued by a human, therefore only a human could pay for it. Second, it was a debt that offended the eternal God. Because the one was offended is eternal, the debt then is also eternal. It would appear impossible to pay this debt. The one who pays the debt must be human but also eternal. No human is eternal, for every human comes into existence. The only possibly that the debt would be paid is for the Eternal Word, to become incarnate. God must become man, take on flesh and pay the price for Adam and Eve. Jesus is the new Adam.
In the Chronicles of Narnia, the law demands blood, someone must die.
Aslan shed’s his blood in place of Edmund’s blood.
The debt of humanity is so great that only God Himself can pay for it. “The parable also clearly shows that we are totally in God’s debt. A talent was the equivalent of six thousand denarii, and a denarius a working man’s daily wage. Ten thousand talents, an enormous sum, gives us an idea of the immense value attaching to the pardon we receive from God. Overall, the parable teaches that we must always forgive our brothers, and must do so whole-heartedly.” [1]
What is meant by the ten thousand talents? How much is “ten thousand talents”? In today’s terms, a thousand talents is equal to a million dollars or in this case ten million dollars! “The ten thousand talents, according to our money [is] more than ten million dollars” [2] This huge sum of money is being asked to be paid off by a poor servant. We are the poor servant, that cannot paid his debt. The number also represents the mortal sin we have committed. No matter how much money the poor man will try and save there is no way he can ever save enough to pay it all off by the time he dies. Spiritually, there is nothing we can do to pay off our mortal sin before we die. “…mortal sin, the guilt of which is so great that no creature can pay it; even all the works of the saints cannot make atonement, because by every mortal sin the infinitely great, good, and holy God is offended, which offence it is as impossible for any creature to cancel as it is for a poor servant to pay a debt of ten million dollars. Nevertheless God is so merciful that He remits the whole immeasurable debt of sin, on account of the infinite merits of Christ, if the sinner contritely begs forgiveness and amends his life.” [3]
Why are there two different amounts owed in the parable? The servant owes the master a “huge amount”. The servant is owed by a fellow servant a “smaller amount”. When we sin, we sin against God and neighbor. An offense against God is “huge” because God is eternal. An offense against our neighbor, because our neighbor is temporal is a “smaller amount”. An offense against our neighbor however is an offense against God. This is taught to us by Jesus when He says, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). Jesus says to Saul, while Saul was in the midst of persecuting and murdering Christians, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:4-5). Jesus was making it clear to Saul that when he persecuted Christians he was persecuting Jesus. These words and the reality of his offenses, would cause a conversion of heart and thus change Saul into Saint Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.
Why does the wife and children have to be sold? “Probably because they assisted in contracting the debt, or gave occasion for its increase. This is a warning to those who in any way make themselves partakers of others’ sins, either by counsel, command, consent, provocation, praise or flattery, concealment, partaking, silence and by defending ill-done things.” [4]
What does Jesus intend to show by this parable? He shows us two things: first, that God is ever merciful towards mankind and that through the merits of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus we are forgiven Original Sin at Baptism and actual sins committed after Baptism in Confession. By the holy cross we have been saved, we are being saved and we hope to be saved. Second, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are infused with gifts which we should live out in order to show mercy and forgiveness to others. “That if God is so merciful and forgives us our immense debts, we should be merciful and willingly forgive our fellow men the slight faults and offences, which they commit against us; he who does not this, will not receive pardon from God, in him will be verified the words of the apostle St. James: judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy (Jas. 2:13)” [5]
Today, the Church extends the same forgiveness through the Sacraments here on earth. “There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. ‘There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance in honest.’ Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin.” [6]
Is there ever a debt that can’t be forgiven? No. Any debt of sin we may have accumulated can be forgiven in the beautiful sacrament of Reconciliation. “There is no limit or measure to this essentially divine forgiveness, whether one speaks of ‘sins’ as in (Luke 11:4), or ‘debts’ as in (Matthew 6:12). We are always debtors: ‘Owe no one anything except to love one another.’ The communion of the Holy Trinity is the source and criterion of truth in every relationship. It is lived out in prayer, above all in the Eucharist.” [7]
[1] Navaree Bible pg. 131
[2] Goffine, The Church’s Year pg. 449
[3] Ibid.
[4] Goffine, The Church’s Year pg. 449-450
[5] Goffine, The Church’s Year pg. 450
[6] CCC 982
[7] CCC 2845