2026 Cycle A - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 27:  30-28: 7; Psalm 101: 3 1 - 4,  9- 12; Romans 14: 7- 9; Matthew 18:35

Homily Theme

Merciful Forgiveness

This Sunday the scriptures speak strongly of the necessity of a merciful forgiveness for others if we are to receive mercy and forgiveness for ourselves. Forgiveness for some minor hurt or injury is easier than for a major hurt, but it is the major hurt that requires a merciful forgiveness.

In today’s first reading, Sirach says if we hold tight to our vengeful thoughts and feelings then God will refuse to forgive us our sins when we need to be forgiven. The Vengeful will suffer the Lord’s Vengeance for He remembers our sins in detail. Do we realize that our sins could lead us to damnation?  But God in His merciful love forgives our greatest sins when we repent and turn back to Him.  He canceled the debt of all our sins on the Cross. So we must be ready and willing to forgive those who have hurt us if we wish to receive His mercy no matter how great our pain is.

In the Gospel, Peter asks the Lord if seven times is the number we must forgive our neighbor and the Lord tells him, not seven times but seventy-seven times. There is no limit to the times we must forgive and if there is one single person that we haven't forgiven then we will not be forgiven. This is emphasized by the parable in today’s Gospel about the servant who had his great debt canceled but casts his fellow servant into prison for his inability to a repay him a much smaller debt. 

If refusing to forgive our neighbor is sufficient for the loss of our salvation how much more serious is it when we hold vengeance against God Himself? There may be some who are mad at God for taking a loved one or not answering our prayers. What about those who no longer attend Church because of scandals or some perceived hurt from a church member?  Vengeance is Vengeance and to hold on to it is a barrier to our receiving the merciful forgiveness of God. Vengeance is mine says the Lord, but so is His Mercy.  Which do you want to receive?  Then let us resolve today to forgive all those who have caused us pain and sorrow.  Feel the peace that will come into your soul as you do so. If our sins shall be as scarlet they shall become whiter than snow.  We receive His Merciful Forgiveness when we confess our sins in the confessional and receive absolution from  the priest. Resolve now to forgive all those who may have hurt you in anyway. Absence from Sunday Mass is painful to God but He still loves us and waits for us to return to the Sacraments for His Merciful Forgiveness.