Sunday, September 13, 2026

 

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Sirach 27:33-28:9; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35)

Today’s gospel passage addresses one of Jesus’ hallmark themes: forgiveness. It shows that Christ came to reconcile us with God and with one another. Alienation—that is, being at odds with others—is a primitive human condition. We find it in the garden immediately after the man and woman ate the forbidden fruit. Instead of acknowledging his disobedience, the man tries to blame his partner for everything. He tells God, “The woman… gave me the fruit…”

It is always a passion that causes us to offend one another. It may be envy, anger, or another of the “deadly sins” that leads to vicious acts or hurtful words. However, in Adam's case in the garden, it was simply the fear of punishment that moved him to alienate himself from Eve.

Our offenses never simply affect another person or people but always involve God. By sinning, we separate ourselves from God. For we disobey his will that we live in peace with everyone. Like any human head of household, God wants all his people to get along with one another.

To restore peace between brothers and sisters separated by sin, Jesus insists on forgiveness. The word forgiveness has Old English roots: for meaning completely and giefan meaning to give. To forgive, then, is "to give completely" or, better, "to give a complete benefit." In the case of a debt, forgiveness is to completely cancel the debt.

Let us apply this to Jesus' parable in today’s gospel. Jesus is giving instructions on the reconciliation of sinners with God and with the community. Peter asks him if it is necessary for the community to forgive a sinner up to seven times. Jesus replies with an unexpected answer -- not just seven times but seventy times seven. In other words, Jesus wants us to always forgive a sinner, at least if he or she sincerely asks us to.

Then he tells the disciples the parable of the servant who owed the king 10,000 talents. This was an almost unimaginable amount of money at the time. (The talent was the most valuable currency then, and 10,000 was the largest number used.) However, by asking for time to pay the debt, the servant touched the king's heart and received a complete cancellation of the debt.

Understood in the transaction was the condition that the servant show mercy to others, as the king had shown him. However, as soon as he was given the opportunity, the servant refused to forgive a debtor a relatively small amount. In fact, he wanted to imprison the debtor until he was paid back in full. When the king heard of this abomination, he became angry. He ordered that the wicked servant be delivered to the torturer until he "paid back what he owed." That is, for the rest of his life, given how enormous his debt was.

The parable applies to our “brothers and sisters” in the Church when they ask for our forgiveness. We must forgive them “from the heart,” not only monetary debts but all kinds of offenses when they sincerely ask for it.

But what would Jesus say if our offenders do not ask for our forgiveness? And what would he do with offenders with whom we do not share the same faith? Last Sunday’s gospel reading ended with the command that, if the sinner does not repent of his crime, he should be treated like “a pagan or a tax collector.” At first glance, it seems that Jesus is advocating disdain for the sinner or, at least, his isolation. But how did Jesus treat tax collectors and pagans? Didn’t he strive to reconcile them with God? That is how we should act toward our hardened offenders. We should pray that they repent and be ready to forgive them if they do. We should always remember that God has forgiven our sins. Therefore, we want to do everything possible to help those who offend us to be forgiven.

Friday, September 11, 2026

 

Friday of the Twenty-third Week in ordinary Time

(I Timothy 1:1-2.12-14; Luke 6:39-42)

Twenty-five years have passed since the day of infamy.  On September 11, 2001, a score of Muslim terrorists shocked the most powerful nation on earth.  They caused the death of approximately 3000 inhabitants of the United States by crashing four hijacked passenger jets into three fully occupied office buildings.  Of course, the nation responded to the outrage with the result of 300 times as many deaths in several Muslim countries over the years.

In today’s gospel Jesus speaks as a teacher and prophet.  He tells his disciples to remove from their eyes whatever causes them to hate others.  Whether it is fear or prejudice, they must remove it so that they might see everyone as a brother or sister.

How would he judge the clash of civilizations between radical Islam and postmodern western culture?  He would likely condemn the use of violence as wicked. Then he would invite all parties involved to introspection and dialogue.   He would tell Muslims that all human beings must be respected with the full range of rights declared by the United Nations almost eighty years ago.  He would instruct the West to open their eyes to see how lust, selfishness, and greed are eroding families and communities.  Greater, more irredeemable tragedy will come unless all reform their ways to promote love in truth and justice in action.

Thursday, September 10, 2026

 

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 8:1b-7.11-13; Luke 6:27-38)

St. Paul’s intention in saying that “knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up” is somewhat obscure.  He seems to mean about the same as the famous line of the English poet, Alexander Pope:

“A little learning is a dangerous thing;

Drink deep, or test not the Pierian spring:

There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain” …

 

Having learned only a little, some think that they know a lot.  They should heed Socrates, one of the wisest people who ever lived.  He told listeners that the more he knew, the more he realized that he did not know.

Paul is not giving his readers a theory of knowledge.  Rather, he wants them to value love more than knowledge or anything else.  He will draw out this lesson later in the letter.  Here Paul is warning that those who pride themselves with knowing what others don’t know should take care.  They may do or say something that will cause the downfall of a brother or sister in Christ.  If this happens, they will have to answer to God.

For love of Christ and neighbor, we should avoid words and actions that may cause others to sin.  Sometimes we do so without it being our intention.  We may only want to please ourselves.  But this is unacceptable for members of Christ’s Church.  As parts of his Body, we cannot do or say anything without affecting other parts.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest

(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)

If ever there was a people hungry, thirsty, and maltreated, it was the African slaves transported in cargo ships to serve on plantations across the Americas.  Historians tell of the ships being vastly overcrowded with many dying on route.  To those who take care of victims such as these Jesus directs his sermon in today’s gospel.

Among the few who responded to the Lord’s urgency was St. Peter Claver.  This Spanish Jesuit went aboard slave ships anchored in Cartagena, Colombia, to bring some relief to the many Africans being enslaved.  He not only administered bread and water but also taught the people catechism so that they could join the Church and receive salvation.

Disgracefully people are still being enslaved today.  The sex trade has led to many women and children being taken from their families and forced to commit dehumanizing, sinful acts.  Law enforcement around the world must pursue the perpetrators of these crimes.  We must not participate in the trade it obliquely by viewing pornography.  Of course, prayer for the victims and advocacy against the slave trade are also in order.

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

 

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Micah 5:1-4a; Matthew 1:18-23)

There is a lovely Orthodox Christmas hymn that brings out the meaning of today’s feast.  The hymn begins by asking what would be a suitable gift from humans to the newborn Savior.  It reviews the gifts of other creatures: the angels give a hymn, the heavens, a star; the shepherds, their wonder; and the earth a cave.  Then it pronounces the greatest gift of all.  It is the human gift of a virgin mother.

The hymn exemplifies the synergy between the divine and human.  God has provided His Son while humans have cooperated by providing a mother without whom the saving act of Christ could not have taken place.

Mary is not God.  She does not merit worship. But she may be called the greatest of all humans besides the Savior himself.  She merits our veneration and reflection.  For this reason we celebrate her birth today.