Daily Readings - Tue Mar 22 2022
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 reflections on mercy, forgiveness, and the relationship between God and humanity. The first reading from Daniel captures a moment of profound prayer amidst suffering. Azariah, standing in the fiery furnace, cries out to God, acknowledging the sins of his people and pleading for mercy. He recognizes the justice of God’s judgment but also trusts in God’s covenant faithfulness and compassion. This prayer is not born of despair but of hope, rooted in the belief that God’s mercy endures forever.
The Gospel reading from Matthew complements this theme of mercy, as Jesus teaches Peter and the disciples about the boundless nature of forgiveness. When Peter asks how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him, Jesus responds with a parable about a servant who is forgiven a massive debt but then refuses to forgive a smaller debt owed to him by another servant. The parable underscores the gravity of withholding forgiveness and the necessity of extending mercy as we have received it from God. Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional; it is a fundamental aspect of life in the Kingdom of God.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Just as Azariah humbly acknowledges the sins of his people and trusts in God’s mercy, we too must recognize our own need for forgiveness and turn to God with contrite hearts. Similarly, the parable in Matthew challenges us to examine how we treat others. Have we allowed the mercy we’ve received to transform us, or do we hold onto grudges and refuse to forgive? Forgiveness is not merely a feeling but a choice—a choice to let go of resentment and to trust that God’s justice will prevail. As we strive to live out this teaching, may we remember that the mercy we show to others is a reflection of the mercy we’ve received from God. Let us pray for the grace to forgive as we have been forgiven, and may our lives bear witness to the transformative power of God’s love.