First Reading

Daniel 3, 25. 34-43

At that time, Azariah prayed to the Lord, saying:
“Lord, our God, do not abandon us forever;
for the honor of your name, do not break your covenant;
do not withdraw your mercy from us,
for Abraham, your friend,
for Isaac, your servant,
for Jacob, your holy one,
to whom you promised to multiply their descendants,
like the stars of the sky and the sands of the shore.

But now, Lord, we are diminished
before the other peoples
and are humbled throughout the land,
because of our sins.
Now we have no prince or leader or prophet;
no holocaust or sacrifice or offering or incense;
no place where we can offer you the first fruits and obtain mercy.
Therefore, accept our sorrowful heart
and our humbled spirit,
like a sacrifice of rams and bulls,
like a thousand fattened lambs.
Let this be our sacrifice today
and may it be perfect in your presence,
for those who trust in you are not disappointed.
Now we will follow you with all our heart;
we fear you and seek to find you;
do not let us be disappointed.
Deal with us according to your kindness
and your abundant mercy.
Save us by your wonders
and give glory to your name”.

Gospel

Matthew 18, 21-35

At that time, Peter approached Jesus and asked him: “If my brother offends me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered: “Not only up to seven, but up to seventy times seven”.

Then Jesus said to them: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. The first one presented to him owed him millions. As he had nothing with which to pay, the master ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his possessions, to settle the debt. The servant, throwing himself at his feet, begged him, saying: ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you everything’. The king took pity on that servant, released him, and even forgave him the debt.

But as soon as that servant had gone out, he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him a small amount. Then he grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, while saying: ‘Pay me what you owe me’. The fellow servant knelt before him and begged: ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you everything’. But the other refused to listen to him, and instead went and threw him into prison until he paid the debt.

When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were filled with indignation and went to tell the king what had occurred. Then the master called him and said: ‘Wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And the master, in anger, handed him over to the torturers until he paid what he owed.

Thus will my heavenly Father do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from the heart”.