Monday, March 20, 2006
Tuesday 3rd week of Lent
March 21, 2006
Tuesday 3rd week of Lent - Yr II
DANIEL 3:25, 34-43B
Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud: "For your name's sake, O
Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not
take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, To whom you promised to
multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the
shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We
have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering,
sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to
find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us
be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or
thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put
to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and
we pray to you. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your
kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory
to your name, O Lord."
MATTHEW 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against
me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus
answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That
is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to
settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a
debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had
no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with
his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient
with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the
master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that
servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a
much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant
begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he
refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply
disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His
master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you
your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity
on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master
handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole
debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives
your brother from your heart."
REFLECTION
Human experience has repeatedly taught us that forgiveness is never
easy. Reflecting on today's Gospel reading may provide the grace of
change of heart that will remove any ill feelings harbored against
someone who inflicted the pain some time in the past. Consider first
the infinite mercy of God.
In the parable, the servant who owed his master was only asking for
some time to repay his debt. Instead, the master completely wrote off
what the servant owed him. That is how much love and mercy our Father
has for us. "Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and
abounding in kindness ... As far as the east is from the west, so far
has he put our transgressions from us." (Ps 103: 8, 12).
But there is a second point in the parable. Divine mercy cannot flow
freely to a sinner who refuses to forgive one who has wronged him.
Indeed, in the same parable, the king revoked the forgiveness he
granted to the unforgiving servant. When we consider the enormity of
the distance between ourselves as ones being forgiven by God, how can
we remain unforgiving?
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- healings for MR, BB, Carol, Fr Steve D, and Peggy O.
- for the healing and speedy recovery of Mr. Leoncio Chua.
- for the personal intentions of Mike Torres.
- for the restoration of love and understanding of Charles & Cheryl C.
- Thanksgiving prayers for Rikit Navarro
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Ernest James Yu
- for the quick recovery / healing of Amalia Lim.
- for the sisterhood and brotherhood love of CFC-SA.
- for the safe travel of Tess Lumbao.
- Birthday: Chaelda Del Carmen
- In Memoriam (+): Yu Tiong (1921-2002)
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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