Daily Readings - Tue Mar 06 2018

First Reading - Daniel 3.25, 34-43

²⁵Then Azariah, while standing, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said³⁴Do not hand us over forever, we ask you, because of your name, and do not abolish your covenant³⁵And do not withdraw your mercy from us, because of Abraham, your beloved, and Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one³⁶You have spoken with them, promising that you would multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore³⁷For we, O Lord, are diminished more than all other peoples, and we are brought low throughout all the earth, this day, because of our sins³⁸Neither is there, at this time, a leader, or a ruler, or a prophet, nor any holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first fruits, in your eyes, so that we may be able to find your mercy.³⁹Nevertheless, with a contrite soul and humble spirit, let us be accepted⁴⁰Just as in the holocausts of rams and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, in order to please you. For there is no shame for those who trust in you⁴¹And now we follow you wholeheartedly, and we fear you, and we seek your face⁴²Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in agreement with your clemency and according to the multitude of your mercies⁴³And rescue us by your wonders and give glory to your name, O Lord

Gospel - Matthew 18.21-35

Matthew

Chapter 18

²¹Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?²²Jesus said to him: "I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times²³Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants²⁴And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents²⁵But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it²⁶But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.²⁷Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt²⁸But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.²⁹And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.³⁰But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt³¹Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done³²Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me³³Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?³⁴And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt³⁵So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of mercy, forgiveness, and trust in God. The first reading from Daniel presents Azariah's prayer in the midst of the fiery furnace, a moment of intense trial. Azariah humbly acknowledges the sins of his people, yet expresses unwavering trust in God's mercy and covenant. His prayer is not one of despair but of hope, recognizing God's faithfulness even in adversity. The Gospel from Matthew complements this with Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant. Peter's question about forgiveness prompts Jesus to illustrate the consequences of withholding mercy. The servant, forgiven a vast debt, fails to extend the same compassion to his fellow servant, leading to severe repercussions. This parable underscores the necessity of forgiveness as a response to God's grace. These readings connect through their emphasis on mercy and forgiveness. Daniel's trust in God's mercy amidst persecution mirrors the servant's opportunity to show compassion. Both stories remind us that receiving God's forgiveness should transform our hearts, prompting us to extend mercy to others. In our daily lives, we are called to reflect God's compassion, fostering a culture of forgiveness and understanding. Let us embrace humility and trust, allowing God's mercy to flow through us, transforming our relationships and actions.