The Measure of Mercy and the Cost of Witness

Voice over by Veronica

Ezek 12:1-12, Psalm: 77, Mt 18:21—19:1

Saint Maximus the Confessor, abbot

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we are asked to do.

Peter thought he was being generous: “Lord, should I forgive seven times?” But Jesus shatters his limits: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In other words—endlessly. Then He tells the parable: a servant forgiven an impossible debt refuses to forgive a small one. And the king is furious.

The message is tender and challenging: we have been forgiven everything by God. How can we hold a grudge against anyone?

Today we remember St. Maximus the Confessor. He defended the truth about Christ and lost his freedom, his tongue, even his life in exile. But he forgave those who harmed him. He knew that witnessing to truth matters, but so does mercy.

Ezekiel also witnessed—performing a humiliating sign to wake up his people. Truth cost him his dignity.

What about us? Is there someone we are refusing to forgive? A wound we clutch tightly? Jesus gently asks us to let it go. Not because they deserve it, but because we have been forgiven so much. The measure of mercy we give is the measure we receive.

This week, set down your grudges. Forgive as you have been forgiven. And if witnessing to truth costs you, remember—the joy of eternal life is worth every sacrifice. Amen.

May God bless you all!