19th Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 17th August 2023

Moses led the Hebrews from Egypt and then through the wilderness for forty years, but he died before entering the promised land. God chose Joshua to take Moses’ place. Here we find the Hebrews ready to cross the Jordan, but how were they to do so? God provided the answer just as God did when the Hebrews left Egypt. The Ark of the Covenant led the people across as God parted the waters on the approach of the Ark. God had always been present for the Hebrews on their journey, just as God is present for us.

In answer to Peter’s question regarding forgiveness, Jesus shared a parable about a man who owed his master a large sum of money. The master was kind and cancelled the debt. However, that same servant refused to cancel the debt of someone who owed him a small sum of money and had him thrown into prison.

When  the master heard of this, he had the servant jailed and tortured. God has forgiven us much, and we are to forgive others. We cannot expect God to forgive us if we do not do the same for others.

Lord, help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me.