Daily Readings - Tue Mar 26 2019
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 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.