Daily Mass Readings for Thursday, 17 August 2023
First Reading: Joshua 3: 7-10a, 11, 13-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 114: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Alleluia: Psalms 119: 135
Gospel: Matthew 18: 21 – 19: 1
Thursday, 17 August 2023
First Reading
Joshua 3: 7-10a, 11, 13-17
The LORD said to Joshua,
"Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses.
Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant
to come to a halt in the Jordan
when you reach the edge of the waters."
So Joshua said to the children of Israel,
"Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God.
This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst,
who at your approach will dispossess the Canaanites.
The ark of the covenant of the LORD of the whole earth
will precede you into the Jordan.
When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD,
the Lord of the whole earth,
touch the water of the Jordan, it will cease to flow;
for the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank."
The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan,
with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark
waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan,
which overflows all its banks
during the entire season of the harvest,
than the waters flowing from upstream halted,
backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed,
from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan;
while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah
disappeared entirely.
Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
While all Israel crossed over on dry ground,
the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD
remained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordan
until the whole nation had completed the passage.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Alleluia!
When Israel came forth from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his domain.
Alleluia!
The sea beheld and fled;
Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like the lambs of the flock.
Alleluia!
Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
You mountains, that you skip like rams?
You hills, like the lambs of the flock?
Alleluia!
Alleluia
Ps 119:135
Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant
and teach me your statutes.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 18:21–19:1
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 the fellow servant 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."
When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee
and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
Todays Reflection
Forgiving
Saint John Chrysostom emphasizes that Jesus' "seven times" is a way of saying "always." This passage highlights the contrast between human tendency towards forgiveness and God's infinite mercy. The infinite mercy of God cannot be outdone, and therefore, there must be no limit to the mercy we offer others. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant illustrates the importance of forgiveness not being an option unless we are perfect and owe no debt to God. The king forgave the debt, but forgiveness has one price: we must also forgive others to the same extent. Forgiveness is not an option unless we are perfect and owe no debt to God. Reflecting on the infinite depth of mercy and forgiveness you are called to offer to each and every person who has or will hurt you is crucial. To forgive is not to excuse, but to acknowledge the sin. Mercy must be offered without any conditions, always, everywhere, unending. If this is difficult, do it anyway and do not stop. Doing so will not only help the sinner but also open the gates of mercy from God in your life. In conclusion, Jesus' infinite mercy is unfathomable and unfathomable. We must forgive every sin in our lives and open the gates of mercy from God in our lives. By doing so, we can forgive as completely as we can and trust in His unending mercy.
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