Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Sirach 27:30-28:7, Romans 14:7-9, and Matthew 18:21-35.
The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 103 (Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm- Psalm 103 The Lord is Kind and Merciful, Slow to Anger and Rich in Compassion
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? 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 your brother from your heart."
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sunday Reflections: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 13, 2020
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 13, 2020)