Once upon a time there was a land of snow and cold. The winters were long and hard, the wind fierce and frigid. For months on end there was blizzard after blizzard. The snow piled up as high as the roofs so that the people could be trapped in their houses for weeks on end. This was hard on everyone, but it was especially hard for two young girls. Their names were Sophie and Nadia, and they were best friends.

Forgiveness can be hard. Sometimes very hard. So, Peter’s question is a good one. “If someone sins against me,” he asks Jesus, “how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Peter had clearly picked what he thought was an impossibly large number. And yet what is Jesus response? “Not seven times,” Jesus replies, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Essentially, Jesus was saying, “Don’t even ask. Just keep doing it.” This is how God forgives us, after all. Why should we expect to do any less for others? That’s the point of the parable that follows.