Cathedral Homilies

Furthermore, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Then Peter approached him and said to him, "Lord, how many times, if my brother sins against me, should I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven, but up to seventy times seven."

For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. And when he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed ten thousand talents. And since he had no way to pay, his lord commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold, so that he might pay. And that servant fell down, worshipped him, and said, "Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything." And the lord of that servant had mercy and released him, and forgave him his debt. But that servant went out

and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And he seized him and was choking him, and said to him, "Give me what you owe me." And his fellow servant fell at his feet and pleaded with him and said to him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you." But he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay him what he owed. When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed. And they came and informed their lord everything that had happened. Then his lord called him and said to him, "Wicked servant, I forgave you that entire debt because you asked of me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?" And his lord was angry and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay everything he owed him. So my Father who is in heaven will do to you, if you do not forgive, each of you to your brother, his trespasses from your hearts.

And it happened that when Jesus finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great crowds followed him.