Reading 1 (Sir 27,30-28,7)
Whoever sets in motion a wicked plan will find that it rolls back over him, and he will not know from which direction it will arrive. Mockery and derision are of the arrogant, and vengeance will lie in wait for them, like a lion. Whoever enjoys the fall of the just will perish in a snare, and grief will consume them before they die. Anger and fury are both abominable, and the sinful man will be held by them. Whoever wishes for vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely be attentive to his sins. Forgive your neighbor, if he has harmed you, and then your sins will be forgiven you when you pray. A man holds on to anger against another man, and does he then seek a remedy from God? He has no mercy on a man like himself, and does he then entreat for his own sins? He who is but flesh holds on to anger, and does he then request forgiveness from God? Who can obtain pardon for his sins in this way? Remember your very end, and let animosities cease. For corruption and death are suspended over his commandments.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103)
To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses.
He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities. He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion.
He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities.
For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us.
Reading 2 (Rom 14,7-9)
For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living.
Gospel (Mat 18,21-35)
Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?” Jesus said to him: “I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants. And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it. But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’ Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt. But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.’ And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’ But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt. Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me. Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?’ And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt. So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.”