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.
Here are some of the main themes in the Mass Readings for the 23rd Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Ezekiel 33:7-9
God charges the prophet to warn the people of their wickedness.
If the prophet does not speak, both the people and the prophet will die.
If the prophet speaks and the people do not listen, the people will die, but the prophet will be saved because he did what the Lord commanded.
Psalm – 95:1-2,6-9
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
We acknowledge the Lord and bow down to worship the God who guides us.
2nd Reading – Romans 13:8-10
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.
Love fulfills all the commandments of the law.
Gospel – Matthew 18:15-20
If someone sins against us, we are to strive to address the fault, first with the person, then with others, and finally (if all else fails) with the church.
Where two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus, the Lord is present in their midst.
When Peter’s fear of crucifixion leads him to tempt Jesus away from his saving mission, the Lord responds with a stern rebuke and a call to follow him as we carry the Cross. In other words, when fear rises up in our hearts, we face it with faith, knowing that the Cross is not the end, but a doorway that leads to eternal life.
Three Great Things 