Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 17 September 2023 Homily for 17 September 2023 – Sunday
First Reading: Sirach 27: 30 – 28: 7
27:30 Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, yet a sinner holds on to them.
28:6 Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside; remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
Anger and wrath! Being angry for a reason and at a specific time is not condemned here, but holding on to anger is being called an abomination! By the dictionary definition, abomination means abhorrence, loathing, detestation, or a state of mind of disgust! Imagine God the Almighty who is slow to anger and abounding in mercy would carry a mind of disgust for only one sin: anger and wrath! Yet in today’s world anger is sometimes construed as being powerful! It is rightful to be angry at injustice, immorality, or hate- (check Matthew 21, Mark 11, John 2) where Christ exemplifies this! But being angry for no reason and creating chaos and confusion because one is angry is not acceptable. “In your anger do not sin.” Says the Lord!
While wrath refers to the exhibition of rage and deep resentment! How foolish of a person to willfully display these emotions! A sure way to regulate our anger is to remember the end days as stated above in Sirach 28:6. What angers us can be addressed in a composed manner. We do need to vent our emotions but we must strive to do it in as godly manner as we can! In the gap between the stimulus and our response lies our freedom of choice. We must be prayerful and careful about this. It is our free choice after all! Let us not give up control to the enemy lurking in the corners of our weaknesses! – We know he prowls about seeking our ruin,
Amen, Alleluia!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 103: 1-4, 9-12
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Alleluia! Amen!
Second Reading: Romans 14: 7-9
8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
If we believe we are the Lord’s, we must live and die to him. May the Holy Spirit remind us each moment, every day about this great mystery of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 18: 21-35
35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
A Christian is asked to forgive their brethren, every time they truly repent and turn away from their sin. Yet we are to discern whether it is through genuine repentance that they ask pardon. We can also spiritually forgive those who do not even ask for forgiveness – because we are then liberated of the task! We can then walk in peace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
