Daily Readings - Thu Aug 17 2023
Joshua
7And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.17And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
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.
1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, faith, and forgiveness. The first reading from Joshua recounts the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, a pivotal moment in Israel's history. As Joshua leads the people, the priests carry the ark of the covenant into the river, and God parts the waters, allowing the Israelites to pass safely. This event mirrors the parting of the Red Sea and reinforces God's presence and power in their journey. It is a testament to the faith required to follow God's plan, even when the path seems impossible.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus teaching on forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant. Peter's question about the extent of forgiveness is met with Jesus' emphasis on limitless mercy. The parable illustrates the consequences of not extending forgiveness, highlighting the hypocrisy of seeking mercy while withholding it from others. This teaching underscores the reciprocal nature of God's mercy and our responsibility to share it with others.
Both readings connect through themes of trust and action. Joshua's story shows the Israelites trusting God to part the waters, while the Gospel calls us to trust in God's mercy and extend that mercy to others. In our daily lives, we face moments requiring trust, whether in uncertain times or in relationships. Forgiveness, like the parting of the Jordan, can seem daunting, but it is through letting go of grudges that we find freedom and healing. The moral lesson is clear: we must forgive as we have been forgiven, reflecting God's mercy in our actions. Let us embrace this call to trust and forgive, allowing God's grace to flow through us, just as the Jordan's waters parted for His people.