" Lord how many times must I forgive the offenses of

my brother or sister or sister Seven times."

Jesus answered, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times"

Jesus uses the number to mean limitless forgiveness, showing that God's people

should always forgive others without keeping count.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Sirach 27:30-28:7

Grudge and wrath,

These also are abominations in which sinful people excel.

He who demands revenge will suffer the vengeance of the Lord

who keeps a strict account of his sins. Forgive the mistakes of your neighbor

and you may ask that your sins be forgiven. If a man bears resentment against another,

how can he ask God for healing? If he has no compassion on others,

 

how can he pray for forgiveness for his sins? As long as he, mere flesh, is resentful,

who will obtain his pardon? Remember your end and give up hatred;

keep in mind your final corruption in the grave and keep the commandments.

Remember the commandments and do not bear grudges against your neighbor.

Remember the Covenant with the Most High and overlook the offense.

 

Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (8)

The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 14:7-9

In fact, none of us lives for himself, nor dies for himself.

If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord.

Either in life or in death, we belong to the Lord.

It was for this purpose that Christ both died and came to life again,

to be Lord, both of the living and of the dead.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter asked him, "Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister?

Seven times?" Jesus answered, "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants.

Among the first of them was one who owed him ten thousand pieces of gold.

As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife,

his children and all his goods, as repayment. The servant threw himself at the feet of the king and said,

Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.

 

The king took pity on him, and not only set him free, but even canceled his debt.

When this servant left the king's presence, he met one of his fellow servants,

who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the throat and almost choked him,

shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!' His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him,

'Give me time, and I will pay everything. But the other did not agree, and sent him to prison until

he had paid all his debt. Now the servants of the king saw what had happened.

 

They were extremely upset, and so they went and reported everything to their lord.

Then the lord summoned his servant and said, 'Wicked servant,

I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so.

Weren't you bound to have pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'The lord was now angry.

He handed the wicked servant over to be punished, until he had paid the whole debt." Jesus added,

"So will my heavenly Father do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina 

God's compassion toward us is immeasurable.

Read: The readings emphasize forgiveness and mercy. Sirach warns against anger and vengeance,

urging us to forgive others so we may be forgiven. Romans reminds us that we do not live or die for ourselves,

but for the Lord, who is sovereign over life and death. In Matthew,

Jesus teaches Peter to forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times,

illustrating this with a parable about a merciful king and an unforgiving servant.

 

Reflect: In today's Gospel, Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive?"

As many as seven times?" Jesus' reply reveals the boundless nature of God's mercy.

The parable the Lord shares depicts a servant who has been forgiven

an enormous debt yet is unwilling to forgive a fellow servant. It serves as a striking reminder:

 

God's compassion toward us is immeasurable, but it comes with a call to extend that same mercy to others.

We all stumble; we all owe debts. Yet God lifts us, forgives, and restores us.

We are called not to cling to grudges. As God shows us mercy, we are urged to do the same for others

, letting go of resentment and embracing compassion. Let us reflect God's heart by forgiving freely,

loving deeply, and walking humbly with one another.

 

Pray: Lord, give me a heart that shows mercy as I have been shown mercy.

 

Act: Forgive a brother or sister who has wronged you.