Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 22, 2022
First Reading: Daniel 3.25, 34-43
Psalm 25
1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.2O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.3Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.4Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.5Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.6Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.9He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.11For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.12Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.13His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.14The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.15My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.16Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.17The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.18Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.19Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.20Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.21May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Gospel: Matthew 18.21-35
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 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.