24th Sunday Ordinary Time Rdgs & Reflection

September 11, 2011 ~ Liturgical Year A, Cycle I  ~ Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Sirach 27:30-28:9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

These readings can be viewed at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091111.cfm.




Reflection Questions

1. Read the passage twice out loud: What word or phrase stands out for you?

2. Read the passage two more times out loud: What word or phrase stands out for you and why? What images did you see as this passage was being read?

3. Read the passage two more times out loud: How does this Gospel challenge you to be a better ‘forgiver’ in your life? In what situations in life do you find it hard to be a person of forgiveness? Describe.


Gospel Reflection

Have you ever been so hurt by people that you just want to say, ‘enough is enough’, and do all you can to get even with them? This is how St. Peter felt in the passage we read in this week’s Gospel. St. Peter asks the Lord how many times we are supposed to forgive someone who repeatedly harms us. We have no idea if St. Peter is talking about big or little sins, just sin in general. Notice how Jesus responds with a number: Did His answer really mean that we don’t have to forgive the person for the seventy-eighth offense and beyond? We also don’t know exactly why St. Peter and Jesus used the number ‘seven’, but we can be assured that Jesus’ use of the number ‘seven’ had a deeper spiritual meaning. We are sure of this because of the way Jesus continued His response to St. Peter. Jesus wasn’t so much concerned about the number of times we forgive people as much as He was concerned that our hearts will always be ready to forgive. (In that way, we know that Jesus was interested that we forgive 100% of the time, which will probably end out being more than seventy-seven times.) Jesus’ parable is simple: If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. Remember that St. Peter asked about how we should forgive – yet he forgot that we also need to be forgiven. Jesus was helping St. Peter focus on the bottom-line to forgiveness, which is how it leads to our eternal salvation. If we limit the forgiveness we give to others, then God will literally limit us from heaven. Our forgiveness must be genuine, from the heart, and not just lip-service. So often people say that they forgive, and yet they hold a grudge against the person. Can you think of times in your life when you said, ‘I forgive you’ and you still held a grudge? Jesus will not allow us to do that. If we want to enter the Father’s Kingdom, we must learn, with God’s grace, to free ourselves of any resentment and anger. In this way, we will truly be people of peace, and will be able to enjoy our eternity with Jesus.