Mass Readings: September 11
Reprinted from
Presentation Ministries,
a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization
and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of
the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community.
THE STREAM OF MERCY
"Moved with pity, the master let the official go and wrote off the debt." –Matthew 18:27
All of us reading this should have been condemned to hell forever
because of our sins. David committed one sin and 70,000 people were
killed (2 Sm 24:15). That's how high the wages of sin are and why
everlasting hell is just punishment for our sins.
Because of His
love for us, the Lord has been rich in mercy (Eph 2:4). Although we have
amassed monumental debts of punishment due to our sins, Jesus' death on
Calvary has covered them all. He has forgiven us, washed away our sins
in His Blood, paid the price for our sins, taken our punishment on
Himself, saved us, and redeemed us.
We owe a fantastic debt of
gratitude to Jesus. We can never pay this debt, but should try. We
should live no longer for ourselves, but for Him (2 Cor 5:15). We must
tell everyone about His love and mercy, and praise Him always.
Especially, we should extend forgiveness and mercy to those who have
hurt us.
After what Jesus has done for us, He expects us to do
this. If we who have been forgiven do not forgive others (Mt 18:35; cf
Mt 6:14-15), the Lord will ask us: "Should you not have dealt mercifully
with your fellow servant, as I dealt with you?" (Mt 18:33) "Should a
man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins?" (Sir
28:4)
PRAYER: | Lord, have mercy on me and through me. |
PROMISE: | "While we live we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die we die as His servants." –Rm 14:8 |
PRAISE: | Praise the risen Jesus, Whose mercies are inexhaustible. Merciful Lord, Savior, and Judge, be exalted forever. Alleluia!
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