Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 9, 2021
First Reading: Daniel 3.25, 34-43
Psalm 25
1Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.6Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.8Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.10All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.13His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.15Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.16Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.18Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.19Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Gospel: Matthew 18.21-35
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 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.