Daily Readings - Thu Aug 16 2018
Ezekiel
1The word of the LORD came to me:2"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.3"Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.4During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.5While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it.6Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."7So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.8In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:9"Son of man, did not that rebellious house of Israel ask you, 'What are you doing?'10"Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.'11Say to them, 'I am a sign to you.'"As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.12"The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.13I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die.14I will scatter to the winds all those around him-his staff and all his troops-and I will pursue them with drawn sword.15"They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
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."
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about God’s mercy, human stubbornness, and the call to live as instruments of forgiveness and compassion. Ezekiel’s prophetic actions in the first reading are a stark reminder of God’s judgment on those who refuse to see and hear. By packing his bags and leaving in the dark, Ezekiel enacts the fate of Jerusalem’s leaders, who will be carried away in exile. The people of Israel, despite their physical sight and hearing, are spiritually blind and deaf to God’s warnings. Ezekiel’s actions are a call to repentance, urging the people to recognize their sins and turn back to the Lord.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches Peter and the disciples about the boundless nature of forgiveness. When Peter asks how many times he should forgive a brother, Jesus responds with the shocking figure of seventy times seven, emphasizing that forgiveness is not limited by numbers but is an endless act of mercy. The parable of the unforgiving servant drives this point home. The servant who is forgiven a massive debt but refuses to forgive a smaller one is condemned for his hardness of heart. Jesus makes it clear that receiving God’s mercy requires us to extend that same mercy to others.
These readings challenge us to reflect on our own relationship with God’s mercy and how we treat others. Ezekiel’s prophecy reminds us that God’s patience is not endless and that we must respond to His call while there is still time. Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness calls us to let go of grudges and resentments, not because others deserve it, but because we ourselves have been forgiven so much. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Do we see and hear God’s presence in our lives? Are we living as instruments of His mercy and compassion? May we strive to be people of forgiveness and love, reflecting the boundless mercy of our heavenly Father.