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First Reading: Jos 3:7-11, 13-17
The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses. Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to come to a halt in the Jordan when you reach the edge of the waters."
So Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God. This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst,
who at your approach will dispossess the Canaanites. The ark of the covenant of the LORD of the whole earth will precede you into the Jordan. When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, it will cease to flow; for the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank."
The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them. No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan, which overflows all its banks during the entire season of the harvest, than the waters flowing from upstream halted, backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed, from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan; while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely. Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD
remained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordan until the whole nation had completed the passage.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R Alleluia!
When Israel came forth from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his domain.
R Alleluia!
The sea beheld and fled;
Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like the lambs of the flock.
R Alleluia!
Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
You mountains, that you skip like rams?
You hills, like the lambs of the flock?
R Alleluia!
Gospel Reading: Mt 18:21-19:1
Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?" Jesus answered, "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
"This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.
"The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.' The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.
"This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!' His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.' The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.
"His companions saw what happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?' The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt."
Jesus added, "So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister."
When Jesus had finished this teaching, he left Galilee and arrived at the border of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan River.
Opening Prayer
God of mercy and compassion,
you know how sometimes
we have to wring forgiveness from our torn hearts.
Maybe we cannot pardon in others
what we condemn in ourselves.
We are at the same time guilty and offended.
God, help us to understand ourselves
that we may be more understanding to others
and that we may learn to forgive
totally and without regret
as you forgive us again and again
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
In an epic style, imitating that of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds at the exodus, the author of the Book of Joshua narrates how the people of Israel crossed the Jordan and entered into the Promised Land.
Gospel Introduction
God is good and merciful by nature, forgiving, loyal, radiating generosity. It is natural for him to forgive. In our case, things are more complicated. Are we understanding and forgiving by nature? By calling, yes, but by nature? And second, in God's case there is only one offended party, God. In our situation, quite often there are two offenders and two offended parties. Shall the twain ever meet, if only one is willing to let bygones be bygones and to make a fresh start? When we are hurt, we have to tear the word or gesture of forgiveness from our hearts. And yet, we have to do it seventy-times seven times, says the Lord…
General Intercessions
- For the Church, that it may keep itself dedicated to bring reconciliation to its members and to the world, we pray:
- For all Christian Churches, long divided by grudges and pride, that we may be brought together in the unity of one gospel and one love of Christ, we pray:
- For those married couples that live side by side without much love and without communicating, that they may come to forgive, to understand and to appreciate each other again, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we gather around this table
to remember with bread and wine
that your Son shed his blood to reconcile us to you.
Let this be a celebration
of pardon and peace with one another.
Help us to love one another with a sincere love
and to forgive one another,
for you have forgiven us much
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you want us to live not in the past but for the future.
In the strength of this sacrament
of unity and forgiveness,
give us hearts generous enough
to let bygones be bygones
and to build up together a community of peace
in which we accept one another
with our gifts and faults,
as you accept us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
God has spoken very clearly to us today that we have to become like him, to forget and forgive, to heal and care, and we will be healed ourselves. May God be with you and bless you, that Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
