Sat, and Sunday, Sept 10, 11

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Scripture: Lectionary 442. I Timothy 1:15-17. Psalm 113:1-2.3-4.5.6-7. Luke 6:43-49

Paul openly confesses his sins and his weakness with humility and honesty. We see that he is totally transparent to all who are his converts, friends, and disciples. He displays his great confidence that he is forgiven through the redeeming love that Jesus offers to him and to all who believe in Him. He affirms,”Christ came into this world to save sinners.” Jesus himself has told us that he came to call sinners not the righteous. Jesus continues his merciful forgiveness and his patient waiting for us to turn away from sinning.

Luke,a companion of Paul, gives us an array of Jesus’ sayings of comparison and then ends with a parable. Jesus is teaching us through these sayings and aphorisms how to become disciples, that is, learners in the words Jesus gives us about the kingdom of God. It is here present in Luke’s way of looking at the plan of God or the economy of salvation. Luke like John has a realized eschatology for his readers. This means he focuses on the here and now and not on the distant future coming of the Son of Man, Jesus.

Luke will soon lead us into his long travel with Jesus or his “Journey Narrative” from chapter 9:51-19:27 where he will describe through Jesus’ words the meaning of discipleship within the Christian way of life that follows Jesus closely. This long narrative is filled with instructions on how to be a follower of Jesus. Our short passage for today is similar to what we will learn on the way up to Jerusalem with Jesus where he will be crucified.

Our passage has three short teachings and ends with a parable. The lessons are basically about growth and sound foundation within our life of faith. We are to embrace these lessons if we want to be disciples of Jesus. We do so with faith of the heart: “A good person produces goodness from the good in his heart” just as a good tree is known by its good fruits. With our Psalm we sing out in praise of Jesus’ words to us: “Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 113:2) Amen.

Lectionary 131 for the 24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year 1, A Cycle

Sirach 27:30-28:7, Psalm 103:1-2.3-4.9.10.11-12. Romans 8:14:7-9. Matthew 18:21-35:

We are all familiar with the violence, rage, anger and terrorism with which our globe is infested. These are all sins and Sirach, a Book written by a wisdom searcher gives us some fine instructions on how to control our tempers. Anger is rarely justified and is a terrible weapon for breaking up friendships and important relationships. We admire sport figures who remain calm in adversity and are disturbed by those who lose their temper and often because of that, lose the game. We all have some anger moments within our hearts and heads and often give vent to them. We need forgiveness of those upon whom we inflict our anger. Listening carefully to all of our readings this day, we can come to some insights and spiritual graces that can help us control the temptation to be angry when things do not go our way or when we are not able to control our reactions in some happenings each day. As Christians we are called to root out anger from our hearts by always seeking forgiveness of one another through asking for it and through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Jesus teaches Peter about the lesson of forgiveness through a parable that is very helpful to us in times of our sinning against our neighbor or when they ask forgiveness of us for having offended us. It is an example parable. We learn from the good Master how to forgive and then to offer forgiveness to those who have offended us. We do not take out our anger on them in order that they may learn to control their anger toward us. I cannot recall where anger ever solved a problem in my life.

Jesus says to forgive seventy times seven in order to hammer home that we are to forgive always. The number is symbolic of an infinite number of times that we are called to forgive someone. Seven time seven or seventy times seven is an infinite number in the Scriptures.

Peter in listening to the parable learns that the good Master shows overwhelming and abundant forgiveness to the wicked servant. Unfortunately, this does not sink in for the unfaithful one who refuses to forgive someone who owes him a small debt. He throttles him and imprisons him till he pays the last penny—probably with the help of his sons and daughters. The Master then has to become the just judge who gives the wicked servant what he truly deserves. This is an action parable that helps Peter and us to understand the great importance of forgiveness in our lives.

The strong ending of the parable gives us its meaning:”My Heavenly Father will treat you exactly the same way unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” In our prayer we can say the Response of today’s Psalm and make it control our anger and open us to always being forgiving: “The Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.” (Psalm 103:8). Jesus is teaching Peter the words of God found in Exodus 34:6-7: The Lord, the Lord, God, merciful and gracious,long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping his mercy unto the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Amen.