2026-09-13 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Introduction: 

The theme of all the readings today is Forgiveness. 

Bishop Barron in a 2005 discourse uses a powerful illustration from the Life of Saint Marina the Monk that is thought to have originated among Coptic monks of the Scetis desert near Alexandria, Egypt, sometime between the 5th and early 6th centuries — which is why the story is so strongly associated with Coptic (Egyptian) monastic tradition, and why Marina/Marinos is venerated in the Coptic Orthodox Church specifically as a patron for those falsely accused.
Marina was a woman who, along with her father, disguised herself as a man and joined a monastery, living as the monk "Marinos." Years later, an innkeeper's daughter became pregnant and, to protect the real father, falsely accused Marinos of being responsible. Marinos never revealed the truth — since doing so would mean exposing that "he" was actually a woman — and fell to his knees, falsely confessed, and was expelled from the monastery to live as a beggar outside its gates. When the child was born, the innkeeper's daughter handed the baby over to Marinos, who chose to raise him, feeding him sheep's milk from local shepherds and caring for him outside the monastery walls for about ten years, when the mother came forward to say that Marions was innocent of any crime and asked for the child to be return - Marinos was allowed back.

Reference:  https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/sermons/seventy-times-seven-times/

Sirach 27:30—28:7 

"Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight."

When we cling to anger, resentment, wrath - then we are in a state of desolation. Away from God we become bitter and hateful. But once we truly forgive others and start wishing them well then we empty ourselves of the one thing that keeps us away from God, allowing the grace of God to fill your heart with joy and love

Humans fins it very difficult to forgive but for God nothing is impossible. 

 

I liken this to the trials of Job - a test of our faith in the face of what would seem unjust treatment, do we rise to the occasion in the spirit of the crucified  Jesus who prayed for his tormentors, "Father, forgive them for the know not what they do". It is the evil spirit that preys on weak souls to act in evil ways, wreaking havoc that the perpetrator cannot understand. To pass this test of faith, surrender your yoke to Jesus and pray for the perpetrator. Then go one step further and do a selfless act of kindness to the perpetrator - this will prove that not only are you talking the talking but actually walking the walk. God will see that your intention is authentic and will bless you with the grace and wisdom to deal with this problem.

 

About the Book of Sirach

    The Intertestamental Period, between the end of the Old Testament and the start of the New Testament, was a time when God sent no prophets. It covers roughly 400 years, spanning from the end of the ministry of Malachi (c. 420 BC) to the appearance of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Some interpret this silence as a purposeful divine pause to prepare for the arrival of Jesus our Redeemer.

    The period saw less involvement from Yahweh and the rise and fall of empires, including the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great and the subsequent rule by his successors, the Ptolemies and Seleucid and finally the Roman conquest of the region roughly 60 BC eventually followed around the time of Christ.     
 During this Intertestamental Period, several books, collectively called the Apocrypha (including Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, and Sirach), were written and have been adopted by Catholic and Orthodox traditions because they greatly influenced the New Testament. 
    Many Protestants view these 400 years of "silent years" as a time when there was no new divine revelation and no new prophets, so no new scripture was added to their biblical canon.
 The Book of Sirach — also known as Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach — is one of these wisdom books of the Intertestamental Period, initially written in Hebrew around 200 BC, at the heart of the Second Temple period, when Hellenization had firmly gripped the ancient Mediterranean world and posed an existential threat to Judaism. It is valued for its practical, ethical, and theological wisdom, offering guidance on daily life and connecting it to a covenant with God. 

Psalm 103 of David

This is one among 73 psalms attributed to David in the Old Testament hymn book. 

Verse one of Psalm 103, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” has inspired musical arrangements including the popular praise song by Andrae Crouch, “Bless the Lord, O my soul … He has done great things.”
Psalm 103, an individual psalm of thanksgiving, has two distinct elements: 
First a hymn of praise: Don’t Forget What God has Done for You! (103:1-5) for his majesty, steadfast love, mercy, and justice, rescue, deliverance, and healing.
Second a call for praise. Amazing Grace (103:6-18)

Romans 14:7-9 and Matthew 18:21-35 

Everything we have and are is a free gift from God. When we realise that living in God allows us to live a full life here on earth, it allows us to surrender everything to God.

On humanistic terms: We all love to be forgiven but forgiven others is hard. Ego and self-righteousness prevent us from shaking off the hurt. But if we surrender to God then all things are possible with God.

Bishop Barron offers these 4 keys to forgiveness

1. Forgive everyone, unilaterally , all the time - even repeat offenders (aren't we guilty of being repeat sinners?). Forgive and we will be forgiven
2. Forgive quickly before the hurt calcifies and the devil hardens your soul
3.  Go to confession frequently and seek redemption - this will absolve you of your guilt allowing the love of God to fill your heart.
4. When you forgive send an olive branch to the offender so he/she/they know and have a chance to heal himself/herself/themselves.