77 TIMES - A: 24th Sun of OrdTime

Gospel: Mt 18:21-35 (17 Sept 2017)

"Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times" (Mt. 18:21)

Today, our gospel uses the Greek term “ebdomekontakis hepta” in Mt 18:22 as Jesus’ response to Peter’s query on how many times a brother should be forgiven. This is translated by English bibles differently: either as “70 times 7” (as in KJV) or “seventy-seven” (as in ESV). The Filipino Bible (TLAB) is rather ambiguous: “makapitongpung pito.” But what difference does it make if we render it as 490 (70 x 7) or 77?

Both are very colossal numbers, especially in the context of the frequency of forgiving.

Interestingly, translating it as 77 relates it to Gen 4:24, where the pledge of Lamech is recalled: “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” The context behind this statement is Lamech’s killing of someone who stroked and wounded him (v.23). A few verses before that is the mark put on Cain by the Lord, even though he is guilty of murdering his brother Abel. Herein, the number 7 was mentioned: “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance (Gen 4:15).”

If our gospel today is understood as interconnected with the OT, I reckon it is better to translate “ebdomekontakis hepta” as 77. Doing this links the play of the numbers 7 and 77 in Genesis with our episode in Matthew. Also, it links the value of saving-the-life-of-the-guilty with the importance of forgiveness. Further, it connects the rehabilitation of the sinner within a community and the spiritual readiness of Christ-followers to forgive everyone. In Genesis, Cain and Lamech are genuinely guilty of their crimes, but no less than the Lord intervened so that they would not be killed by the community. Likewise, in the gospel, the man who owed his master is truly guilty of not paying his insurmountable debt of 10,000 talents, but no less than the master wrote off his due.

In both accounts, the guilty, despite their crimes, are never allowed by God to be executed; thus, neither should any from the community attempt to seek vengeance on them.

The thousands who were killed in the Philippine government-led war on drugs were adjudged by many as guilty of either drug use or trafficking. The ordinary layman would say: “they deserve to die anyway after committing several crimes in the past.” Yet, this attitude is vindictive, nearer to the Hammurabi law of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” This, however, is denounced in Mt 5:39: “But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer.” God is asking us to go the extra mile of forgiving and giving them another chance to change.

The killing of minors at the height of this operation of crackdown on criminals, among them Kian delos Santos (17), Carl Arnaiz (19), and Reynaldo de Guzman (14), to name a few, is read by many as “karma” at work: Kian is a drug-courier while Carl and Reynaldo are robbers themselves anyway. But regardless of the integrity of their guilt (which is contestable and insensible) is the dignity of the human life. Life is sacred and has to be protected at all times. We can only commiserate with Lorenza, the mother of Kian, as she says: “Kung totoo ang binibintang sa aking anak, sana naman po binigyan ‘nyo ng karapatan na mabuhay” (“Granted that the accusation against my son were true, I wish you should have given him a chance to live.”)

The right to live. The most basic human right. We are playing God if we do not respect it, or I say, playing Devil instead since not even God himself desires vengeance.

Yes, I prefer the translation “77” not mainly because of exegetical or theological reasons. But primarily because my father and mother are both 77 years old now. As Lorenza values highly her son's life, so do I care for the lives of my loved ones. If we also do, we would protect human life and learn to forgive the sinner… even as many as 77 times.

- Rex Fortes, CM