Jesus exhorts his disciples to love, forgive, give, bless, pray, and stop judging and condemning one another…for the measure with which we measure will be measured back to us!
Jesus speaks of blessings and woes, reminding us that in the ups and downs of life we cultivate gratitude so that we can keep ourselves grounded regarding our need for God.
In the midst of the messy reality that flows through our family, friendships, and relationships in the course of our lives, God is with us – weaving and guiding grace into the fabric of our lives.
The Lord teaches us that to seek goodness and life guides us how to live our lives with vibrant faith in the midst of the many options and choices that we face each day.
Here are some of the themes that we find in the Mass readings for the 24th Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Sirach 27:30-28:9
While wrath and anger are hateful things, the sinner hugs them tight.
If a person expects mercy and pardon for sins, enmity must be set aside.
Psalm – 103:1-4,9-12
“The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.”
God pardons, heals, and redeems us out of kindness.
2nd Reading – Romans 14:7-9
None of us lives or dies for oneself, but for the Lord.
Christ has died and rose that he might be Lord of the dead and the living.
Gospel – Matthew 18:21-35
When asked by Peter how often must he forgive his brother, Jesus offers a parable about a servant who failed to forgive someone in a small way after he had experienced great forgiveness from his master.
The Lord then applies the parable to us all: we must forgive one another if we expect to be forgiven by God.
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