This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, September 17th is from Matthew 18:21-35.
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”
Reflection
“Peter must have thought he was going overboard when he suggested that he would forgive the person who wronged him seven times. But seven times actually seems doable. Once a day for an entire week isn’t that hard. And after all, seven represented completeness. But Jesus shocks Peter when he demands forgiving seventy-seven times. Who could possibly do that? But that’s the point. Forgiveness isn’t something that is tracked on a scorecard. The goal of forgiveness is reconciliation. Until that is reached, we need to keep trying.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Autumn 2023
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 7:1-10
Tuesday 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Luke 7:11-17
Wednesday 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Luke 7:31-35
Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial) – In the early 1800s, Christian communities began to flourish in Korea, under the leadership of laity. In 1836, missionaries from the Parish Foreign Mission Society secretly entered the country. The Christian communities encountered hostility. Over 10,000 Christians were killed. Among them were the layman Paul Chŏng Ha-sang and Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn.
Thursday Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13; Matthew 9:9-13
Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (Feast) – The apostle Matthew appears in the list of the twelve apostles in all three synoptic gospels, but only in Matthew’s gospel is he identified as a tax collector (the other gospels call this man Levi). Matthew, the gospel author, invites his community of Jewish-Christians to embrace their Jewish tradition and participate in the Church’s evangelizing mission to the Gentiles.
Friday 1 Timothy 6:2c-12; Luke 8:1-3
Saturday 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Luke 8:4-15
Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest (Memorial) – Padre Pio was born as Francesco Forgione in the Italian village of Pietrelcina. He joined the Capuchin Friars and was ordained a priest. While praying before a cross, he received the stigmata—the bodily experience of the crucifixion wounds of Jesus. He founded a hospital, the House for the Relief of Suffering. He was a spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor, whose life was devoted to the Eucharist and prayer. SOURCE: Living with Christ, September 2023