Tuesday, March 10
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
First Reading – Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:
“For your name’s sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break your covenant, and do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham your beloved and for the sake of Isaac your servant and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.
And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, no place to make an offering before you or to find mercy.
Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs; such may our sacrifice be in your sight this day,and may we wholly follow you, for there will be no shame for those who trust in you.
And now with all our heart we follow you, we fear you and seek your face.
Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your forbearance and in your abundant mercy.
Deliver us in accordance with your marvelous works, and give glory to your name, O Lord!
Let all who do harm to your servants be put to shame; let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion, and let their strength be broken.
Let them know that you are the Lord, the only God, glorious over the whole world.”
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
℟ Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
℟ Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Be mindful of your compassion, O Lord, and of your merciful love, for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to your mercy remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
℟ Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
℟ Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Verse Before the Gospel – Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and tear your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy, and repents of evil.
Gospel – Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; f 25and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred de narii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.
