Tuesday of the Third Week
The Psalm response is, “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” It becomes a prayer for guidance, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior.”
The first reading has Azariah setting an example of what God wants us to do, namely, call upon Him. Azariah has been thrown into a fiery furnace along with his brothers, Hananiah and Mishael. They have chosen God over even their own lives. Azariah calls upon God. Azariah reminds God of their lot, brought low by their sins, and asks that they be received as offerings, “as we follow you with our whole hearts…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.” The end of this third chapter of Daniel relates that they were released from the furnace unharmed. Nebuchadnezzar, whose golden idol the brothers had refused to worship, ends up praising their God…”How great are his signs…his dominion endures through all generations.”
The reading from Matthew has Peter asking Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus responds with, “…not seven but seventy-seven times.” Jesus then tells the parable of the unforgiving servant who asks for his debt to be forgiven and his King pardons his debt. The servant, however, does not do the same for one of his debtors but punishes him. The king calls the unforgiving servant back and asks, “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you?”
As we prepare to walk with Jesus to Golgotha and bear witness to his sacrifice of Love, these readings lead us to our God and Savior as our source for forgiveness, and the perfect example of mercy
Prayer
Help us to always call upon you, Lord, and please strengthen us as we try to follow your example of love and mercy to all. Amen.
Stephanie Noakes ’80, MA ’09, P’05
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB web site
