The Unpayable Debt - The 10th Sunday After Pentecost

Today, on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, we are blessed to commemorate the Hieromartyr Eutychius, a disciple of the Apostle and Evangelist, St. John the Theologian. Eutychius, an incredible servant of Christ, reminds us of the resounding truth found in our Scripture readings today that connects us to our call as Christians.

The Gospel of Matthew (18:23-35) presents us with the parable of the unmerciful servant. We hear of a man who is forgiven a truly astronomical debt by his king, a debt so large it was impossible to repay. Yet, moments later, this same servant refuses to forgive a fellow servant a minuscule sum. The king, upon hearing this, is rightly enraged and delivers the unmerciful servant to be tortured. Christ ends the parable with a sobering message: "So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye, from your hearts, forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Eutychius lived this reality. As a disciple of St. John, he understood the immense debt we owe to Christ—a debt of sin that is so great it could only be paid by the life-giving sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross. This is the ultimate act of mercy, a forgiveness that is beyond our comprehension. St. Paul, in our Epistle reading from 1 Corinthians (9:2-12), speaks of his own ministry and his refusal to accept payment, choosing instead to serve freely, without burdening others. This, too, is a reflection of the same selfless love and sacrifice that Eutychius embraced. He didn't seek to profit from his faith; he gave his life for it. He understood that the gift he had received—salvation and eternal life—was unpayable.

The Matins Gospel passage (John 21:15-25) where Christ asks Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" reminds us that our love for Christ is not just a feeling, but a calling to action. It is a command to "feed My sheep." Eutychius fed Christ's sheep, not with food, but with the spiritual nourishment of the Gospel, and he did so with the same self-emptying love we see in St. Paul. His life was a testament to the debt he had been forgiven. He had received boundless mercy and, in turn, he showed boundless devotion, ultimately sealing his testimony with his own blood.

So on this day, as we honor the Hieromartyr Eutychius, let's look at our own hearts. Have we truly grasped the magnitude of the debt we have been forgiven? Do we, like the unmerciful servant, hold grudges and refuse to forgive the small trespasses of others? Let Eutychius be our example. He reminds us that our love for Christ is demonstrated by our mercy towards others. We have received an unpayable gift. Let us not be so foolish as to demand payment for the small debts owed to us.

Instead, let us show the world the same love and forgiveness we have received from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.