Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel from both last Sunday and today speak to us about the importance of forgiveness. In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus offered a process for being reconciled with a brother or sister who sins against us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to Peter’s question about how often we must forgive a brother or sister who sins against us by telling the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. 

Peter thought he was being generous in suggesting that we forgive someone as many as seven times! Jesus responds with seventy-seven times as a way to illustrate that there is no limit to the amount of forgiveness we are called to extend to one another. We are called to forgive as God has forgiven us, unconditionally and without limit. 

Scripture Reading for September 17, 2023

Sirach 27:30—28:7
Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35