Saint Patrick, Bishop, Missionary
Biographical Information about St. Patrick
Readings for Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Daniel 3:25, 34-43
In the fire Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:
"For your name's sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dn 3:25, 34-43
The reading from Daniel is the Prayer of Azariah (Abednego) one of three companions to Daniel that were thrown into the furnace at the command of King Nebuchadnezzar because they would not worship the idol made of gold he had made.
Azariah’s prayer is for the whole people of Israel, who are in dyer straights. He prays (You may recognize some of the final verses as being included in Offertory Prayer in the Mass.) that God accept a humble and contrite heart in lieu of the traditional animal sacrifice required of their tradition at that time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” be made know. This request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter approaching asked him (Jesus),
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
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.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 18:21-35
We begin this rather lengthy Gospel passage with the discourse on “Forgiveness”. Peter asks the question that paraphrases one asked in the book of Genesis by Lamech (Genesis 4:24.). He is looking for guidance in the form of a finite amount of forgiveness and in answer receives the command that forgiveness must infinite (represented by the multiples of seven and 10).
To emphasize this need for forgiveness, the Lord launches into the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. The moral of this particular parable is the measure we use to judge others is the same measure that will be used by God to measure us when we come before him. Here is how the Jerome Biblical Commentary sums up that parable:
“The model is the forgiveness of God, which knows no limit; and neither should man's forgiveness. If man does not forgive, he cannot expect forgiveness; if he does not renounce his own claims, which are small, he cannot ask God to dismiss the claims against him.”[5]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The readings for Tuesday have a central theme of forgiveness; one of the features of Christ’s teaching that differentiates Christianity from other belief structures. There is a strong support in the readings for the Church’s dogma on Purgatory as well, especially the last verse (Matthew 18:35) “Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
The forgiveness the Lord is talking about is more than just saying; “I’m sorry.” We use as an example the story of a large family. There were seven bothers and sisters at the time the father of this family passed away (his wife having predeceased him). The oldest of the children was named executor and was responsible for the settlement of the estate (and it was a very modest estate – a small house with its contents and a few thousand dollars in cash). There were accusations made about the disposition of the estate and feelings were hurt. It resulted in a split into factions four against three, both sides saying terrible things about the other. The resulting rift spawned years of spite that found its way into some of the children of these once loving siblings, who carried on the rhetoric. The petty hatreds spawned over the paltry assets of a father who would have corrected them no doubt have them headed for a long stay in that land of purification. Even in later life, when some words of reconciliation were said, forgiveness from the heart was not there. Like two prizefighters shaking hands before a bout. The handshake does not mean they are friends.
“…unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” What exactly is; “from your heart”? Does that mean the same as loving your brother? Ironically, the lack of forgiveness that will end us up in the hands of the tortures will likely come because of someone we know well, possibly even family. It is the people we love and trust that can earn our hatred most deeply. Over and over, families are torn apart because of actions that will not be forgiven. Violations of trust can only occur when there is trust there to begin with and trust is expected.
Face it, when someone you don’t know wrongs you; say they steal something from you. It is much easier to forgive them than if that person was a person you loved and trusted. In that instance you feel not only the loss of that which was stolen, but the loss of trust that went with your feelings toward that person. In those circumstances it takes a special effort to forgive “from the heart.”
It is, therefore, critical for us that, unless we don’t care where we end up and for how long, we look at these situations and make our best effort at forgiveness. In situations where family and friends are involved, not only will the act of forgiveness save you from anguish in the next life, but it will bring you peace in this one. It is this peace of Christ we all yearn for and it is our great hope to be with him in the age to come.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego in the Furnace” by Gustave Doré, 1865
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[5] See Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 43; 127
Biographical Information about St. Patrick
Readings for Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Daniel 3:25, 34-43
In the fire Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:
"For your name's sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dn 3:25, 34-43
The reading from Daniel is the Prayer of Azariah (Abednego) one of three companions to Daniel that were thrown into the furnace at the command of King Nebuchadnezzar because they would not worship the idol made of gold he had made.
Azariah’s prayer is for the whole people of Israel, who are in dyer straights. He prays (You may recognize some of the final verses as being included in Offertory Prayer in the Mass.) that God accept a humble and contrite heart in lieu of the traditional animal sacrifice required of their tradition at that time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” be made know. This request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter approaching asked him (Jesus),
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
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.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 18:21-35
We begin this rather lengthy Gospel passage with the discourse on “Forgiveness”. Peter asks the question that paraphrases one asked in the book of Genesis by Lamech (Genesis 4:24.). He is looking for guidance in the form of a finite amount of forgiveness and in answer receives the command that forgiveness must infinite (represented by the multiples of seven and 10).
To emphasize this need for forgiveness, the Lord launches into the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. The moral of this particular parable is the measure we use to judge others is the same measure that will be used by God to measure us when we come before him. Here is how the Jerome Biblical Commentary sums up that parable:
“The model is the forgiveness of God, which knows no limit; and neither should man's forgiveness. If man does not forgive, he cannot expect forgiveness; if he does not renounce his own claims, which are small, he cannot ask God to dismiss the claims against him.”[5]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The readings for Tuesday have a central theme of forgiveness; one of the features of Christ’s teaching that differentiates Christianity from other belief structures. There is a strong support in the readings for the Church’s dogma on Purgatory as well, especially the last verse (Matthew 18:35) “Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
The forgiveness the Lord is talking about is more than just saying; “I’m sorry.” We use as an example the story of a large family. There were seven bothers and sisters at the time the father of this family passed away (his wife having predeceased him). The oldest of the children was named executor and was responsible for the settlement of the estate (and it was a very modest estate – a small house with its contents and a few thousand dollars in cash). There were accusations made about the disposition of the estate and feelings were hurt. It resulted in a split into factions four against three, both sides saying terrible things about the other. The resulting rift spawned years of spite that found its way into some of the children of these once loving siblings, who carried on the rhetoric. The petty hatreds spawned over the paltry assets of a father who would have corrected them no doubt have them headed for a long stay in that land of purification. Even in later life, when some words of reconciliation were said, forgiveness from the heart was not there. Like two prizefighters shaking hands before a bout. The handshake does not mean they are friends.
“…unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” What exactly is; “from your heart”? Does that mean the same as loving your brother? Ironically, the lack of forgiveness that will end us up in the hands of the tortures will likely come because of someone we know well, possibly even family. It is the people we love and trust that can earn our hatred most deeply. Over and over, families are torn apart because of actions that will not be forgiven. Violations of trust can only occur when there is trust there to begin with and trust is expected.
Face it, when someone you don’t know wrongs you; say they steal something from you. It is much easier to forgive them than if that person was a person you loved and trusted. In that instance you feel not only the loss of that which was stolen, but the loss of trust that went with your feelings toward that person. In those circumstances it takes a special effort to forgive “from the heart.”
It is, therefore, critical for us that, unless we don’t care where we end up and for how long, we look at these situations and make our best effort at forgiveness. In situations where family and friends are involved, not only will the act of forgiveness save you from anguish in the next life, but it will bring you peace in this one. It is this peace of Christ we all yearn for and it is our great hope to be with him in the age to come.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego in the Furnace” by Gustave Doré, 1865
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[5] See Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 43; 127
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