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.
Jesus offers a path through conflict and animosity, helping us to constructively engage in deep conversation where talking and listening are crucial in order to heal and grow in grace.
The Letter to the Colossians offers a succinct summary of our life in Jesus Christ, who frees us from our sins through his death. Our task? Remain firm in faith and embrace the hope of the Gospel!
In Capernaum, Jesus heals the sick, drives out demons, and tells the people that he must travel to the other towns, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus speaks at the synagogue in Nazareth where he grew up, and he encounters doubt and hesitation as he proclaims his fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah.
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