Daily Readings - Tue Mar 22 2022
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 reflections on mercy, forgiveness, and the relationship between God and humanity. The first reading from Daniel captures a moment of profound prayer amidst suffering. Azariah, standing in the fiery furnace, cries out to God, acknowledging the sins of his people and pleading for mercy. He recognizes the justice of God’s judgment but also trusts in God’s covenant faithfulness and compassion. This prayer is not born of despair but of hope, rooted in the belief that God’s mercy endures forever.
The Gospel reading from Matthew complements this theme of mercy, as Jesus teaches Peter and the disciples about the boundless nature of forgiveness. When Peter asks how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him, Jesus responds with a parable about a servant who is forgiven a massive debt but then refuses to forgive a smaller debt owed to him by another servant. The parable underscores the gravity of withholding forgiveness and the necessity of extending mercy as we have received it from God. Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional; it is a fundamental aspect of life in the Kingdom of God.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Just as Azariah humbly acknowledges the sins of his people and trusts in God’s mercy, we too must recognize our own need for forgiveness and turn to God with contrite hearts. Similarly, the parable in Matthew challenges us to examine how we treat others. Have we allowed the mercy we’ve received to transform us, or do we hold onto grudges and refuse to forgive? Forgiveness is not merely a feeling but a choice—a choice to let go of resentment and to trust that God’s justice will prevail. As we strive to live out this teaching, may we remember that the mercy we show to others is a reflection of the mercy we’ve received from God. Let us pray for the grace to forgive as we have been forgiven, and may our lives bear witness to the transformative power of God’s love.