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"Parable of the Unforgiving Servant"
-- by Domenico Fetti |
FIRST
READING: Sirach
27: 30--28: 9
30
Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and the sinful man shall
be subject to them.
1
He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the
Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.
2
Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurl thee: and then shall thy sins
be forgiven to thee when thou prayest.
3
Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God?
4
He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his
own sins?
5
He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness
of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?
6
Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:
7
For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.
8
Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.
9
Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of
thy neighbour.
PSALM:
Psalms 103:
1-4, 9-12
1
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his
holy name.
2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for
thee.
3
Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.
4
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy
and compassion.
9
He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.
10
He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities.
11
For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath
strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.
12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
iniquities from us.
SECOND
READING: Romans
14: 7-9
7
For none of us liveth to himself; and no man dieth to himself.
8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die
unto the Lord. Therefore, whether we live, or whether we die, we are
the Lord's.
9
For to this end Christ died and rose again; that he might be Lord
both of the dead and of the living.
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.
