1ST READING
Sin tends to predispose us to more sin. Once we enter into a life of sin, it can easily turn into a horrible spiral of increasing sin if we are not alert to the wiles of the devil. This is why the saints are adamant that we break with the ways of sin as soon as we become aware of their presence. The challenge is that this process is painful. Rooting out anything always means a certain amount of trauma. Let us accept the pain that accompanies growth in holiness.
Sirach 27:30-28:7
30 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. 28:1 The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. 2 Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. 3 Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? 4 Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins? 5 If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? 6 Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! 7 Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.
P S A L M
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R: The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 9 He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R) 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. (R)
2ND READING
Paul reminds us that God should always be the focus of our lives. It is when our hearts and minds slip, and their focus shift to something other than God, that we open ourselves to sin. We need to be alert to the challenge to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. It is hard work but worth it in the long-term as we prepare ourselves for the gift of eternal life.
Romans 14:7-9
7 Brothers and sisters: None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
GOSPEL
We live in a time when terrorist acts seem to be almost a daily occurrence. What should be our response to this? Are we permitted to hate the people who perpetuate such things? We can hate the sin, but we are always called to love and forgive the sinner. This is the way of Jesus and so it should be our way too as His disciples. Yes, we need to take the necessary precautions to protect life as best as we can, but it is love that is going to bring any solution to its root cause.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord; love one another as I have loved you.
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. 23 That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 25 Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. 26 At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ 27 Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 28 When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. 31 Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 32 His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 34 Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. 35 So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
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