Daily Readings - Tue Mar 26 2019
Matthew
21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on mercy and forgiveness, central to our faith. The first reading from Daniel presents Azariah's prayer, offered in the midst of a fiery trial. Acknowledging the sins of his people, Azariah humbly seeks God's mercy, not based on their worthiness, but on God's covenant promises. This prayer, born from a place of distress, reflects a deep trust in God's faithfulness and the hope of deliverance.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches Peter about the boundless nature of forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant. A servant, forgiven a monumental debt by his king, harshly refuses to forgive a smaller debt owed to him. This parable underscores the inconsistency of receiving God's mercy yet withholding it from others. Jesus emphasizes that forgiveness must be generous and heartfelt, mirroring the mercy we receive from God.
These readings remind us that our experiences of God's mercy should transform how we interact with others. Just as Azariah and the forgiven servant received unmerited grace, we are called to extend such grace to those around us. In our daily lives, this means letting go of grudges, showing compassion, and embracing the humility to forgive, even when it is challenging. May we reflect God's mercy in our actions, fostering a community where forgiveness and love prevail.