Daily Mass Readings – Tuesday, 2 March 2027

25 Then Azarias standing up prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:

34 Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name’s sake, and abolish not thy covenant.

35 And take not away thy mercy from us for the sake of Abraham thy beloved, and Isaac thy servant, and Israel thy holy one:

36 To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea shore.

37 For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought low in all the earth this day for our sins.

38 Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of firstfruits before thee,

39 That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be accepted.

40 As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee.

41 And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and seek thy face.

42 Put us not to confusion, but deal. with us according to thy meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.

43 And deliver us according to thy wonderful works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord:

R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.

4 Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause. shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.

5ab Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour.

R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

6 Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world.

7bc According to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

8 The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.

9 He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.

R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

12-13 Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.

21 Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times.

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents.

25 And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt.

28 But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.

29 And his fellow servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt.

31 Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much grieved, and they came and told their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord called him; and said to him: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me:

33 Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee?

34 And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt.

35 So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

In the fire, Azarias has no offering to place before God except a contrite heart and a humble spirit. He appeals to the Lord’s covenant, mercy, and faithfulness, trusting that God will not abandon those who seek him. The psalm gives this trust a direction: “Teach me your paths,” and “guide the meek.” Repentance is more than regret; it is returning to God with the whole heart and allowing his mercy to shape our way of living.

Jesus shows what that mercy requires through the servant whose enormous debt is forgiven. Having received compassion, he is expected to extend compassion to another. The contrast is painful because it exposes how easily we can ask God for patience while refusing it to someone else. Forgiveness does not pretend that a wrong is insignificant, but it releases our claim to make mercy conditional. A practical beginning may be to bring one grievance honestly before God, ask to see it in the light of the mercy we ourselves need, and choose a step toward forgiveness. The Lord’s mercy is meant to become visible in the hearts of those who receive it.

Merciful God, remember your compassion and do not abandon me when I turn away from your paths. Give me a contrite heart, a humble spirit, and the courage to return to you with my whole heart. Teach me to receive the forgiveness I cannot earn, and to show that same mercy to those who have wounded or offended me. Guard me from keeping account of another’s debt while forgetting your patience with mine. Guide my words, judgments, and choices, so that your tenderness may be made visible through me. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.