First
Reading Daniel 3:25,34-43 Azariah stood in the heart of
the fire, and he began to pray:
Oh! Do not abandon us for
ever, for the sake of your name; do not repudiate your covenant, do not withdraw your favour
from us, for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac your servant, and of
Israel your holy one, to whom you promised descendants as countless as the
stars of heaven and as the grains of sand on the seashore. Lectures
Lord, now we are the least of
all the nations, now we are despised throughout the world, today, because of
our sins. We have at this time no leader, no prophet, no prince, no holocaust,
no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense, no place where we can offer you the
first-fruits and win your favour.
But may the contrite soul, the
humbled spirit be as acceptable to you as holocausts of rams and bullocks, as
thousands of fattened lambs: such let our sacrifice be to you today, and may it
be your will that we follow you wholeheartedly, since those who put their trust
in you will not be disappointed.
And now we put our whole heart
into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more. Do not
disappoint us; treat us gently, as you yourself are gentle and very merciful.
Grant us deliverance worthy of
your wonderful deeds, let your name win glory, Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Remember
your mercy Lord
Gospel Matthew 18:21-35 To be forgiven, you must
forgive Reflections
Peter went up to Jesus and
said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as
seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
‘And so the kingdom of heaven
may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants.
When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents;
but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be
sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the
debt.
At this, the servant threw
himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the
whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go
and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a
fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the
throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said.
His fellow servant fell at his feet and
implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would
not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay
the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had
happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him.
Then the master sent for him.
“You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you
appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant
just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the
torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father
will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’
Loving Father do not abandon us for ever, for the sake of your holy name do not repudiate your covenant, do not withdraw your favour from us. Father grant us your deliverance
Your Birhday Saint: Saint Nicholas Owen. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.
Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Protect and guide me.
Pray the Holy Rosary: Mary Queen of Peace pray for us.
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