Daily Readings - Tue Mar 05 2024
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, forgiveness, and the profound relationship between receiving and giving. The first reading from Daniel presents Azariah’s prayer, a heartfelt plea for mercy amidst suffering. Acknowledging the people’s sins and their scattered state without a leader or temple, Azariah humbly asks for forgiveness, not based on their worthiness, but on God’s covenant with their ancestors. His prayer emphasizes contrition and humility, illustrating that true sacrifice is a contrite heart.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this with Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness. Peter’s question about forgiving a brother seven times is met with Jesus’ call to forgive seventy-seven times, highlighting the boundless nature of forgiveness. The parable of the unforgiving servant underscores this message: a servant forgiven a large debt refuses to forgive a smaller one, leading to condemnation. Jesus concludes that we must forgive from the heart, just as God forgives us.
Both readings stress the necessity of extending God’s mercy to others. In Daniel, the people, though sinful, seek mercy through humble prayer. In Matthew, the servant’s failure to forgive leads to condemnation, illustrating that receiving God’s forgiveness obligates us to forgive others. This teaches us to approach life with a contrite heart, acknowledging our sins, and generously extending forgiveness, transforming our relationships and communities.
The moral lesson is clear: forgiveness is not optional but a fundamental aspect of our faith. Rooted in humility and gratitude for God’s mercy, we must live out the mercy we’ve received. Let us embrace this call, recognizing our need for forgiveness and extending it to others, thereby deepening our faith and enriching our lives.