While his fellow student’s heart was filling with joy and compassion, this second student’s heart began to fill with questions and frustration.
He was a fisherman by trade and in his heart. He worked hard manual labor every day before the teacher called him.
He had given up a lot to follow this teacher and he had stood by and watched as the teacher called others to follow him — including this tax collector.
Like the tax collector, he made the connection.
He knew exactly what the teacher was saying. As he looked at the tax collector and saw his past and knew how much the teacher loved and cherished him.
He had been witness to this teacher showing grace and compassion and love to each person in the group.
But he couldn’t get beyond the past.
He didn’t consider himself perfect by any means but he often wondered, “How much is enough? How long will he continue to love and forgive what this tax collector did? How long will he continue to show each of us unconditional love? When will the tide turn?”
As the teacher continued speaking, the thoughts continued to rise up in him.
Finally he blurted out, “Teacher!”
The teacher turned and looked towards him.
“Teacher. How many times do I have to forgive a brother or sister who’s hurt me?” he asked. “Seven times?”
He looked towards the tax collector and then back to the teacher.
The teacher smiled and responded, “Seven?”
The teacher laughed.
“Seven times? Hardly! Try seventy times seven.”
The teacher then smiled back at the fisherman and then at the tax collector and then continued his teaching.
They both instantly felt the love he had for them.
They both began to realize, they were no longer “tax collector” or “fisherman” but simply “loved.”
