Parable of the Unforgiving Soccer Captain

Balloon Soccer

For this game, you’ll need several balloons, some masking tape, and two cones or chairs to mark a “goal.” Divide the group into two or three teams. Each team picks one “goalie.” The rest of the teammates must work together to move a balloon across the room into the goal—but here’s the twist: they can only use their heads, no hands or feet allowed. If the balloon touches the floor, their team has to start over from the beginning.

The goalie has special rules. They must keep their feet planted inside a taped “goal box” about 1 foot wide. The goalie cannot kick the balloon. This keeps the game fair and makes it funny to watch as goalies wiggle, bend, and duck to defend their space. After a few rounds, switch goalies so everyone gets a turn.

Follow up questions:
How easy was it to get the balloon where you wanted it?
Did anyone get frustrated when things weren’t working?
What helped your team succeed—encouragement or criticism?

That was pretty funny to watch, wasn’t it? Some of you probably got frustrated when the balloon didn’t go where you wanted, but you kept trying. Sometimes life feels like that—we’re working hard, but things don’t go our way, and we need encouragement instead of anger.

Think about how it felt when your teammates helped or cheered you on. That encouragement gave you energy and made the game more fun. But when there was frustration or blame, it slowed things down. Forgiveness and encouragement work the same way in real life. They help teams, families, and friendships stay strong.

In the Gospel we’ll hear today, Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness. And we’ll look at a modern story about Mike, a soccer captain who faced the same challenge. Just like in our game, we’ll see how being forgiving builds others up, but being harsh tears them down. Let’s listen to the story together.

Matthew 18:21-35 (The parable of the unforgiving servant) – the Gospel Reading for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back,his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.

At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’

Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debts.

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:21-35

Let’s take some time to really think about this story. But it can be difficult to relate to the cultural references to kings and servitude. So let’s look at it from a modern point of view.

Mike was captain of the soccer team. He had always been a good example for the other players. He showed up on time for practices. He never missed a game. He was always ready to encourage and motivate his teammates. But lately, something had changed. Mike was late to practice twice in one week. Then he even showed up late to a game. He seemed distracted and unfocused.

Coach pulled Mike aside and said, “Mike, you’ve been a great team captain, but lately you just haven’t seemed like you care. I hate to do it, but I think I’m going to have to replace you.”

Mike was upset. Being team captain was really important to him. He thought about it and decided to explain what was going on. “Coach, I’m sorry. My grandma has been very sick, and I’ve been really worried. I was late because I had to take her to an appointment. I know I haven’t been focused, but we have her care better organized now. I can do my duties as captain again.”

Coach listened with compassion. He said, “Mike, I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother. That must be very stressful for you. You can stay as captain. If you need to be late for family reasons, just let me know and we’ll work something out.”

Mike felt so relieved. Coach had shown him mercy. He had been kinder than Mike deserved. Mike realized he should have explained sooner.

But the very next week, one of Mike’s teammates, Joe, missed a practice. When Mike saw him the next day, he didn’t even give him a chance to explain. “Joe, you’re not a team player,” Mike snapped. “You missed practice. You’re benched for a week.”

Joe tried to explain. “I’m sorry, Mike. My brother was in an accident and I had to be with him at the hospital. He’s okay now, and it won’t happen again.”

But Mike didn’t listen. “Excuses are worthless. You’re still benched. I’m telling Coach.”

When the other players heard about this, they were upset. They went to Coach first and explained what happened. They thought it was unfair. Joe was a good teammate, but he had missed practice for a serious reason.

So when Mike went to Coach to report Joe, Coach already knew the whole story. He said, “Mike, one of the main jobs of the captain is to encourage the team and build morale. When you told me about your grandmother, I wanted to support you. But when Joe missed one practice because of his brother’s accident, instead of showing support, you wanted to punish him. That is not the right attitude for a captain. I’m sorry, but I’m replacing you.”

Now let’s stop and think about this. How did Mike feel when Coach listened to him and showed him understanding? He probably felt relief, gratitude, and maybe even a little surprised that Coach didn’t punish him. That is what mercy feels like when it is given to us.

Was Coach merciful? Yes, he was. Mercy is when you forgive someone or show them kindness when you could have punished them instead. Coach had every reason to take away Mike’s position, but he gave him another chance.

But what about Mike’s treatment of Joe? Was Mike merciful? No. Even though Joe had a very real and serious reason to miss practice, Mike refused to listen. He punished instead of forgiving. He demanded strict rules when he himself had just benefited from compassion. That was unfair.

How do you think Coach felt when he heard how Mike treated Joe? Probably disappointed, maybe even frustrated. He had hoped Mike would learn from his own experience of mercy and pass that mercy along. But instead, Mike turned around and acted harshly.

This story is like the parable of the unforgiving servant that Jesus told. In that parable, a servant was forgiven a huge debt by a king, but then refused to forgive a small debt owed to him by another servant. The king was angry and took back his mercy because the man would not show mercy to others.

The lesson is the same for us. We are forgiven again and again by God. But do we turn around and forgive others? Or do we act like Mike, happy to be forgiven but unwilling to forgive? Jesus calls us to be like the Coach in the story—ready to show mercy, ready to listen, ready to forgive. Forgiveness keeps friendships strong, builds trust, and heals brokenness.

So think about it for yourself. How do you feel when someone forgives you? How do you feel when someone refuses to forgive you? Which way do you want to live? God forgives us every day, and He wants us to share that same mercy with others. That is what being a follower of Jesus is all about.

When youth break into small groups, the goal is to give them space to share honestly and listen to one another. Remind them that everyone’s thoughts matter, and there are no wrong answers. Encourage them to connect the story of Mike and Joe with the Gospel passage from Matthew 18:21-35. Allow silence if it happens, since sometimes youth need time to think. Invite them to use their own experiences when answering.

• How did Mike feel when Coach showed him mercy, and how is that like the servant in the Gospel who was forgiven by the king?
• Why do you think Mike refused to show mercy to Joe, even though he had just been forgiven himself?
• What does this story teach us about how easy it is to ask for forgiveness but hard to forgive others?
• How do you imagine Joe felt when Mike punished him? How does this relate to the second servant in Jesus’ parable?
• When have you experienced forgiveness from someone else? How did that make you feel?
• When have you had a hard time forgiving someone? What made it so difficult?
• What do you think Jesus wants us to learn about God’s mercy from this Gospel and this story?
• How can showing mercy and forgiveness make a team, a family, or a group of friends stronger?

This week, I want you to take some time to look into your own heart. Ask yourself if there is someone you are holding a grudge against or someone you have not forgiven. It is normal to feel hurt when someone has wronged you, and it is OK to admit that the pain is real. God never asks us to pretend that it didn’t happen. Instead, He invites us to bring our pain to Him. Talk to God about it. Tell Him what happened and how it made you feel. Then ask Him to begin healing that wound in your heart.

Also remember that forgiving does not mean you have to be best friends with the person who hurt you, or even that you have to spend time with them. Forgiveness is not about letting someone continue to hurt you. It is about letting go of the bitterness that weighs you down. When you forgive, you are choosing freedom for yourself. Ask God to give you the strength to let go of anger and resentment, and to replace them with peace. This is how we live out what Jesus teaches in the Gospel—by letting mercy shape our hearts.

Let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and place ourselves in God’s presence. I’ll lead the prayer, and you can follow along silently in your own hearts.

Loving God, we thank You for always being ready to forgive us. You never hold our sins against us when we turn back to You. Help us remember how much mercy You have shown to us.

Lord, sometimes it is hard to forgive others. We want to hold on to our hurt and our anger. Give us the courage to let go and the strength to show kindness, even when it is difficult.

Jesus, teach us to be like You. Teach us to be patient with our friends, our family, and even ourselves. Fill us with Your love so that we can forgive from the heart.

We ask this in Your name, Jesus, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Themes

• God’s endless mercy: God always forgives us when we turn back to Him. His mercy is bigger than our mistakes. We are called to show that same mercy to others.
• Forgiving others daily: Jesus teaches that forgiveness should not be rare. We forgive again and again, even when it is hard. This keeps our hearts free from anger.
• Treating others fairly: Mike received understanding but did not give it. The Gospel shows us the danger of being unfair. Justice means giving others the same kindness we want.
• Building real community: Teams, families, and parishes only work well when there is trust. Forgiveness makes people feel safe and supported. Without it, groups fall apart.
• Learning from mistakes: Everyone fails sometimes. When we are forgiven, we should also forgive. This is how we grow together.
• Mercy over punishment: God prefers mercy to harsh judgment. The story shows how punishment without compassion hurts people. Mercy builds love and strength.
• Passing on kindness: What we receive, we should share. If someone shows us understanding, we should pass that on. This is how Christian love spreads.
• Living the Gospel: The parable in Matthew 18 is not just about the past. It speaks to us right now. We live it out in daily choices.
• Healing broken relationships: Forgiveness repairs what anger breaks. It brings peace between people. It helps us feel whole again.
• Following Jesus’ example: Jesus forgave even His enemies. He asks us to do the same. When we forgive, we act like Him.
• Freedom in forgiveness: Holding grudges ties us up inside. Letting go brings peace. Forgiveness frees us to love.

Background Material

Forgiveness is at the very heart of our Catholic faith. Jesus teaches us again and again that mercy is not optional. It is a command. In Matthew 18:21-35, the parable of the unforgiving servant shows us clearly that if we want God to forgive us, then we must also forgive others. The servant was forgiven a huge debt, yet refused to forgive a small one. This made the king angry. In the same way, when we do not forgive others, we close ourselves off from the mercy of God.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this truth. It says, “It is impossible to keep the Lord’s commandment by imitating the divine model from outside; there has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we live can make ours the same mind that was in Christ Jesus” (CCC 2842). In other words, we can only forgive with the help of God’s Spirit. Forgiveness is not always easy, but the Holy Spirit makes it possible.

We also hear this teaching in the Our Father. Every time we pray, we say, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” These words remind us that God’s forgiveness is tied to our own willingness to forgive. If we ask God to be merciful, we must be ready to pass on that mercy to others. This is not only about fairness. It is about living in the love of God.

The Church also teaches that forgiveness is not the same as forgetting or pretending that nothing happened. To forgive is to choose love over hate, mercy over revenge. The hurt may still be there, but forgiveness opens the way for healing. Pope Francis often speaks about this. He says that mercy is stronger than judgment and that forgiving others brings peace to our hearts. When we forgive, we are not saying that the wrong did not matter. We are saying that love is stronger than anger.

This lesson plan uses a modern story about soccer to make these teachings real for youth. Young people understand what it means to play on a team. They know how important encouragement and trust are. The story of Mike and Joe shows them how quickly things fall apart when mercy is missing. It also shows how unfair it is to want understanding for ourselves but refuse to give it to others. This is the same truth Jesus teaches in the parable.

By connecting the Gospel with a real-life situation, youth can see how forgiveness works in everyday life. They learn that mercy is not only about big things, but also about small choices with friends, family, and teammates. The Soccer Captain and Forgiveness lesson plan invites them to think about their own lives and to practice forgiveness as Jesus calls us to do. This is how they grow as disciples and live out the Catholic faith in simple but powerful ways.

Music Suggestions

• Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive by Koiné
• Peace Prayer by John Foley
• As It Is in Heaven by Matt Maher