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| "Parable of the Wicked Servant" -- by Domenico Fetti |
FIRST
READING: Daniel
3: 25, 34 - 43
25
Then Azarias standing up prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth
in the midst of the fire, he said:
34
Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, and
abolish not thy covenant.
35
And take not away thy mercy from us for the sake of Abraham thy
beloved, and Isaac thy servant, and Israel thy holy one:
36
To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply their
seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea
shore.
37
For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought
low in all the earth this day for our sins.
38
Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or
holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of
firstfruits before thee,
39
That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and
humble spirit let us be accepted.
40
As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat
lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it
may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in
thee.
41
And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and seek
thy face.
42
Put us not to confusion, but deal. with us according to thy meekness,
and according to the multitude of thy mercies.
43
And deliver us according to thy wonderful works, and give glory to
thy name, O Lord.
PSALM:
Psalms 25:
4 - 9
4
Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause.
shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.
5
Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour;
and on thee have I waited all the day long.
6
Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that are
from the beginning of the world.
7
The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember. According to
thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
8
The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to
sinners in the way.
9
He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 18:
21 - 35
21
Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother
offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22
Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till
seventy times seven times.
23
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take
an account of his servants.
24
And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him,
that owed him ten thousand talents.
25
And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he
should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and
payment to be made.
26
But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all.
27
And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and
forgave him the debt.
28
But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow
servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him,
throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.
29
And his fellow servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the
debt.
31
Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much grieved,
and they came and told their lord all that was done.
32
Then his lord called him; and said to him: Thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me:
33
Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow
servant, even as I had compassion on thee?
34
And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he
paid all the debt.
35
So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every
one his brother from your hearts.
