Daily Readings - Tue Mar 09 2021
Matthew
21Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.32Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
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.