Daily Readings - Sun Sep 17 2017
Romans
7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
Matthew
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about our relationship with God and our responsibilities toward others. The second reading from Romans reminds us that our lives are not our own; we live and die for the Lord. This passage underscores our ultimate purpose and belonging to God, highlighting that every moment, whether in life or death, is under God’s sovereignty. Christ’s resurrection ensures His dominion over all, reinforcing our commitment to live in accordance with His will.
The Gospel from Matthew presents the parable of the unforgiving servant, a stark lesson on the necessity of forgiveness. Peter’s question about the extent of forgiveness is met with Jesus’ call to forgive boundlessly. The parable illustrates a servant who, despite being forgiven a massive debt, refuses to extend the same mercy to another. This refusal leads to severe consequences, teaching us that forgiveness is not optional but essential. It reflects the grace we’ve received and must pass on to others.
These readings connect through the theme of grace and responsibility. In Romans, we recognize our dependence on God’s mercy, while in Matthew, we’re called to extend that mercy to others. Forgiveness is not merely a suggestion but a fundamental aspect of Christian life, mirroring the boundless forgiveness we’ve received. As we navigate our daily lives, let us embrace the grace of God and, in gratitude, extend that grace to others, fostering a community of forgiveness and compassion.