Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 17, 2023
First Reading: Sirach 27.30 – 28.7
30Whoever sets in motion a wicked plan will find that it rolls back over him, and he will not know from which direction it will arrive31Mockery and derision are of the arrogant, and vengeance will lie in wait for them, like a lion32Whoever enjoys the fall of the just will perish in a snare, and grief will consume them before they die33Anger and fury are both abominable, and the sinful man will be held by them
1Whoever wishes for vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely be attentive to his sins2Forgive your neighbor, if he has harmed you, and then your sins will be forgiven you when you pray3A man holds on to anger against another man, and does he then seek a remedy from God4He has no mercy on a man like himself, and does he then entreat for his own sins5He who is but flesh holds on to anger, and does he then request forgiveness from God? Who can obtain pardon for his sins in this way6Remember your very end, and let animosities cease7For corruption and death are suspended over his commandments
Psalm 103
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses3He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities4He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion5He satisfies your desire with good things. Your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle6The Lord accomplishes mercies, and his judgment is for all who patiently endure injuries7He has made his ways known to Moses, his will to the sons of Israel8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities11For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us13As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him14For he knows our form. He has called to mind that we are dust15Man: his days are like hay. Like the flower of the field, so will he flourish16For the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer17But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and even unto eternity, upon those who fear him. And his justice is with the sons of the sons18with those who serve his covenant and have been mindful of his commandments by doing them19The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom will rule over all20Bless the Lord, all you his Angels: powerful in virtue, doing his word, in order to heed the voice of his discourse21Bless the Lord, all his hosts: his ministers who do his will22Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Second Reading: Romans 14.7-9
7For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself8For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord9For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living
Gospel: Matthew 18.21-35
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 are invited to reflect on the transformative power of forgiveness and our relationship with God. The first reading from Sirach warns against the destructive nature of anger and vengeance, urging us to forgive others so that we may be forgiven. It reminds us that holding onto anger only leads to spiritual harm and that mercy is a gift from God. The second reading from Romans shifts our focus to living and dying for the Lord, emphasizing that our lives are not our own but belong to God, who through Christ’s resurrection, rules over all. This truth should shape how we live and interact with others.
The Gospel parable of the unforgiving servant drives home the necessity of forgiveness. The servant, forgiven a massive debt, refuses to extend the same mercy to another, leading to severe consequences. This parable is a stark reminder that forgiveness is not optional but essential. Just as we are forgiven by God, we must forgive others. The readings together highlight that our relationship with God is deeply intertwined with our relationships with others. Forgiveness is not just a feeling but a choice that reflects our commitment to living as children of God.
In our daily lives, let us examine our hearts and actions. Are we holding onto grudges or refusing to forgive? The readings encourage us to let go of anger and embrace mercy. Forgiveness liberates us from the chains of resentment and allows us to live in the freedom of God’s love. As we pray for forgiveness, let us also extend it to others, creating communities of compassion and reconciliation. May we remember that our heavenly Father’s forgiveness of us is tied to our forgiveness of others, and may we choose to forgive from the heart, just as He forgives us.