FIRST
READING: Ezekiel
12: 1 - 2
1
The word of the LORD came to me:
2
"Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who
have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not.
PSALM:
Psalms 78:
56 - 59, 61 - 62
56
Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God, and did not
observe his testimonies,
57
but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they
twisted like a deceitful bow.
58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him
to jealousy with their graven images.
59
When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel.
61
and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the
foe.
62
He gave his people over to the sword, and vented his wrath on his
heritage.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 18:
21 - 35 -- 19:
1
21
Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
22
Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy
times seven.
23
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who
wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24
When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten
thousand talents;
25
and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his
wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26
So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay you everything.'
27
And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and
forgave him the debt.
28
But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow
servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the
throat he said, `Pay what you owe.'
29
So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with
me, and I will pay you.'
30
He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the
debt.
31
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly
distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had
taken place.
32
Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I
forgave you all that debt because you besought me;
33
and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had
mercy on you?'
34
And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should
pay all his debt.
35
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not
forgive your brother from your heart."
1
Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee
and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
