Forgive your brother from your heart
Fr Adrian's Homily
Sunday 13 September 2026
The homily was not recorded this Sunday as there were no volunteers available. If you are interested in helping with live streaming for our housebound parishioners, please speak to Fr Adrian.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
13th September 2026
FIRST READING — Sirach 27:30-28:7
Forgive your neighbour and your own sins will be pardoned
A reading from the Book of Sirach.
Anger and wrath, these are abominations, and the sinful man will hold them fast. The one who seeks vengeance will be paid vengeance by the Lord, and he who keeps a record will have his own sins recorded. Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray. Does one person harbour anger against another and yet seek for healing from the Lord? Does he have no mercy towards someone like himself and yet pray concerning his own sins? If he himself, being flesh, maintains wrath, who will make atonement for his sins? Remember the end of your life and cease from enmity, remember destruction and death and be true to the commandments. Remember the commandments and do not be angry with your neighbour; remember the covenant of the Most High and overlook error.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM — Psalm 103(102):1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12. R.8
R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits.
R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
It is the Lord who forgives all your sins,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion.
R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He will not always find fault;
nor persist in his anger for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our faults.
R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so strong his mercy for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far from us does he remove our transgressions.
R. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
SECOND READING - Romans. Romans 14:7-9
Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. Romans 14:7-9
Brothers and sisters: None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel according to Matthew
Forgive your brother from your heart
The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
R. Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time: Peter came up and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often will 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 settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master 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, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him his debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. So he seized him and began to choke him, saying, “Pay what you owe.” So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused and went and put him in prison until 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 master all that had taken place. Then his master 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 master delivered him to the jailers, until 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
