19TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 18:21–19:1) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Aug 16
- 5 min read
FIRST READING - Josh 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17
The ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth will cross the Jordan before you.
A reading from the Book of Joshua
7 Then the Lord said to Joshua: Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, “When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, there take your stand.”
9 So Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord, your God.” 10 He continued: “By this you will know that there is a living God in your midst: he will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 11 The ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth will cross the Jordan before you. 13 When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the waters of the Jordan, it will cease to flow; the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a single heap.”[a]
14 The people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them. 15 When those bearing the ark came to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were immersed in the waters of the Jordan—which overflows all its banks during the entire season of the harvest—[b] 16 the waters flowing from upstream halted, standing up in a single heap for a very great distance indeed, from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan; those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely.[c] Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the Jordan riverbed while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until the whole nation had completed the crossing of the Jordan.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 18:21–19:1
"I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
21 Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 [a]Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. 23 That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24 [b]When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 25 Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. 26 [c]At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ 27 Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 28 When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.[d] He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. 31 Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 32 His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 34 Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.[e] 35 [f]So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” 1 [g]When Jesus[h] finished these words,[i] he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
19TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 18:21–19:1)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God in today's Gospel, God wants to tell all humanity that only the Blessed Mother Mary is the Immaculate Conception, while all people in this world are sinners before Him. No one is perfect before God. Therefore, He invites everyone to be aware of our sinful and weak condition before Him. Only God has the authority to set the law and judge humanity. Apart from Him, no one has the right to condemn or judge others.
God is compassionate and merciful, always loving and forgiving all mankind. When anyone listens to and lives according to God's teachings, He will forgive all of that person's mistakes and offenses against Him. Therefore, whoever is wise should run to God for refuge, obey His commandments, and not follow their own way in any matter.
God invites everyone to forgive "seventy times seven"—a call to continuous and unlimited forgiveness. When people sincerely forgive one another in all things, God will see their compassion and, in turn, forgive all their shortcomings and sins.
God also wants to warn everyone through the image of those who are in debt to Him: if you do not forgive one another, your Father in heaven will not forgive you. Therefore, on the last day, God will judge each soul as we stand before Him. He will ask each one: Have you forgiven your brothers and sisters? Have you truly lived a life of love, tolerance, and generosity toward them?
If not, then you must atone for your sins in purgatory.
God always loves people, and He always wants the best for people. Therefore, Jesus came to earth to bring the Word of God the Father, to teach humanity, that is: you must forgive each other, forgive up to seventy times seven, that is, forgive endlessly, without limit and without calculation. Forgiveness, as the Word of God teaches, is pleasing to Him, and He will also be generous in forgiving our sins and allowing us to enjoy happiness in His Father's Heavenly Kingdom when we are called out of this world by Him.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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