+(Intro) We ask in our prayer this morning that God may bring to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption as God’s sons and daughters so let us take a moment to reflect on what may stand in the way of this happening.
(After our gospel) As I was preparing my reflection on this morning’s gospel, I noticed a voice message on my phone. As I listened to it, I had an awful time understanding what it was for and hearing the number given in order to call this person back. It was probably a request for financial help. After listening a fourth of fifth time, I gave up and cancelled the call.
As I began to ponder the message of today’s gospel I wondered if I had just done what the debtor who had been forgiven much did to his fellow servant? As faulty as the phone message I received was, there was more I might have done to respond appropriately.
I share this because there are always circumstances in our lives that call us to greater understanding of our brothers and sisters as weak and frail as they may be. So let us ask the Lord to fill our hearts with the love that is so manifest in what we celebrate here at this altar.
Ezek 12:1-12; Matt 18:21-19:1