Daily Readings - Tue Mar 09 2021
Daniel
25Then Azariah, while standing, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said34Do not hand us over forever, we ask you, because of your name, and do not abolish your covenant35And do not withdraw your mercy from us, because of Abraham, your beloved, and Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one36You have spoken with them, promising that you would multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore37For we, O Lord, are diminished more than all other peoples, and we are brought low throughout all the earth, this day, because of our sins38Neither is there, at this time, a leader, or a ruler, or a prophet, nor any holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first fruits, in your eyes, so that we may be able to find your mercy.39Nevertheless, with a contrite soul and humble spirit, let us be accepted40Just as in the holocausts of rams and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, in order to please you. For there is no shame for those who trust in you41And now we follow you wholeheartedly, and we fear you, and we seek your face42Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in agreement with your clemency and according to the multitude of your mercies43And rescue us by your wonders and give glory to your name, O Lord
Matthew
21Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?22Jesus said to him: "I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times23Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants24And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents25But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it26But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.27Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt28But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.29And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.30But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt31Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done32Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me33Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?34And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt35So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about mercy, forgiveness, and the relationship between God’s grace and our response to it. The first reading from Daniel presents Azariah, one of the three young men thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. Despite their perilous situation, Azariah prays with humility and trust, acknowledging the sins of his people and imploring God’s mercy. He recognizes that the Israelites are without a temple, a prophet, or a leader, but he still turns to God with a contrite heart, trusting in His covenant and the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Azariah’s prayer is not one of entitlement but of surrender, asking for mercy not because of their worthiness but because of God’s faithfulness.
The Gospel reading from Matthew continues this theme of mercy and forgiveness. Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him, suggesting seven times as a generous limit. Jesus responds by expanding Peter’s understanding, telling him to forgive not seven times but seventy times seven. To illustrate this, Jesus shares the parable of the servant who is forgiven a massive debt by his king but then refuses to forgive a smaller debt owed to him by a fellow servant. The king, seeing the servant’s hardness of heart, condemns him for not showing the same mercy he had received. Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement of life in the kingdom of God.
These readings remind us that God’s mercy is boundless, but it is not without expectation. We are called to receive God’s forgiveness with gratitude and humility, and in turn, to extend that same forgiveness to others. Forgiveness is not always easy, especially when we feel wronged or hurt, but it is essential for building healthy relationships and living as children of God. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust in God’s mercy, and are we willing to share that mercy with others? May we, like Azariah, approach God with contrite hearts, and may we, like the servant in the parable, learn to forgive as we have been forgiven.