Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 14, 2025

Date: Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe

Scripture Text:  Matthew 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion, the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel text recounts Jesus’ response to Peter concerning forgiveness. Jesus uses a parable to teach Peter of the LORD’s mercy for us and the need for us to mirror that mercy with others.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How forgiving am I? As forgiving as I ask the LORD to be of me?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Send your Spirit to stir within me a deep awareness of the mercy I’ve been given and let it produce within me the fruit of mercy towards others, let it be as a seed sown in fertile ground. Amen.