24TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
CYCLE A
Mass Readings.
FOR MEDITATION ON TODAY’S READINGS, SEE: 24th Sunday O. T. (A). FORGIVE, ALWAYS! http://wp.me/p6k7Mv-2OS
First reading: Book of Sirach 27:30–28:9
Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the Lord? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults. Avoid strife and your sins will be fewer, for a quarrelsome man kindles disputes, commits the sin of disrupting friendship and sows discord among those at peace.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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R/. Responsorial Psalm
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. R
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills,
redeems you from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.R.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.R.
For as the heavens are high upon the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward thos who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us. R.
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Second reading: Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 14:7–9
Brothers and sisters: None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. 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. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you. Alleluia
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit..
A reading + from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 18:21-35
Glory to you, Lord.
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 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. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 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.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.