Pass It On

Twenty years ago, I was fortunate to watch the Olympic Torch makes its way to Atlanta. Dave Thomas, the late founder of Wendy’s International, was the torch bearer in my neighborhood.


You probably know the process. A group of torch bearers carry the lit torch from the previous site of the Olympics to the current site of the Olympics. The Olympic Spirit, represented by the flame, is said to leave the previous city and move on to the current city.

The Olympic tradition had been with us for many centuries and is a fun one to rally around.

But, imagine what would happen if the torch was dropped, or did not make it from one torch bearer to the next.
 

Today’s reading is Matthew 18:21-35.
 

A servant owed a large sum of money to his lord. The servant begged and pleaded so the lord forgave his debt.
 

The servant had a servant of his own who owed him a very small sum of money. The “forgiven” servant demanded payment. He had been forgiven a huge debt, yet he refused to forgive a very small debt.
 

The first servant dropped the torch and he paid for his transgression.
 

Through Christ’s death, God has forgiven us much. He has shed his grace on us and has shown us great love. Our response is to forgive others, shed God’s grace on others and show God’s great love by our actions toward others.
 

We are torch bearers of Jesus, the Light of the World! We get to show the Spirit of the Lord to the world!
 

Pass it on!