Daily Readings - Thu Aug 17 2023
Joshua
7And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.8Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'"9Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.10This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.11See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.13And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth-set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.15Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge,16the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.17The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
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 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.