{"id":5873,"date":"2026-09-10T21:01:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T21:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/lectio-divina-24th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-mercy-doesnt-know-how-to-keep-score\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T16:14:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T16:14:07","slug":"lectio-divina-24th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-mercy-doesnt-know-how-to-keep-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/lectio-divina-24th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-mercy-doesnt-know-how-to-keep-score\/","title":{"rendered":"Lectio Divina 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mercy doesn’t know how to keep score"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/p>\n

\n

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time \u00b7 Matthew 18:21\u201335<\/p>\n

Should you not have shown mercy<\/em> too?<\/h1>\n

Mercy does not keep score<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

This Lectio Divina for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time<\/strong>, Year A, enters into Matthew 18:21\u201335<\/strong>: \u201cShould you not have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?\u201d Through Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, Contemplatio and Communicatio, we receive the Word in the Augustinian Recollect spirit, in personal prayer and in community.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

01<\/strong>\u00a0 Lectio<\/span>
\n02<\/strong>\u00a0 Meditatio<\/span>
\n03<\/strong>\u00a0 Oratio<\/span>
\n04<\/strong>\u00a0 Contemplatio<\/span>
\n05<\/strong>\u00a0 Communicatio<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Invocation<\/p>\n

Come, Holy Spirit<\/h2>\n
\n

Come, Holy Spirit,
\nthrough whom every faithful soul
\nthat believes in Christ is made holy
\nand becomes a citizen
\nof the city of God.<\/p>\n

Come, Holy Spirit;
\nmake us receptive to God\u2019s prompting.
\nKindle your fire within us,
\nenlighten us and lift our hearts to God.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Saint Augustine (En. Ps. 45, 8 \u00b7 Serm. 128, 4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

The Gospel<\/p>\n

Matthew 18:21\u201335<\/h2>\n

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time<\/p>\n

\n

At that time Peter came to Jesus and asked: \u201cLord, how often must I forgive a brother or sister who wrongs me? As many as seven times?\u201d<\/span><\/em> Jesus replied: \u201cNot seven times, but seventy times seven.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. One servant was brought before him owing an enormous sum. Since he could not pay, the master ordered that everything he had be sold to meet the debt.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The servant fell at his feet and pleaded, \u2018Be patient with me, and I will repay you.\u2019 Moved with compassion, the master released him and cancelled the whole debt.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

But as soon as that servant left, he found a fellow servant who owed him a small amount. He seized him and demanded payment. His companion fell down and made the same plea: \u2018Be patient with me, and I will repay you.\u2019 He refused and had him imprisoned until the debt was paid.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were deeply distressed and told the king. The master summoned him and said, \u2018You wicked servant. I cancelled your whole debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?\u2019 Then he handed him over until the debt was paid. So will my heavenly Father deal with you unless you forgive your brother or sister from the heart.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The Gospel of the Lord<\/p>\n

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
01<\/div>\n

Lectio<\/p>\n

What the text says<\/h2>\n

Saint Augustine \u00b7 Sermon 83, 2<\/p>\n

\n

Every person stands in debt before God and also has someone indebted to them. None of us can claim to be without fault, and few pass through life without being hurt. God therefore gives us a rule for dealing with those who owe us: the measure we extend is the measure we ourselves hope to receive.<\/p>\n

Two works of mercy set us free: \u201cForgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you.\u201d<\/strong> When we sin, we long for forgiveness, and there is always someone whom we can forgive. When a person in need asks for help, we remember that we too are beggars before God. We stand at his door with empty hands and ask for the greatest gift of all: God himself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Saint Thomas of Villanova<\/p>\n

Learn humility, obedience, mercy, patience and gentleness. In Christ we find the school of every virtue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Reflection<\/p>\n

Mercy does not keep score<\/h2>\n
\n

Forgiveness does not approve wrongdoing or pretend that an injustice was acceptable. It does not remove every consequence or require someone to face harm again. To forgive is to release hatred and the desire for revenge, so that pain no longer governs a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Peter offers to forgive seven times. In Scripture, seven suggests fullness, so his proposal sounds generous. Yet he is still keeping count. Jesus answers with \u201cseventy times seven\u201d and breaks the logic of the scoreboard. Mercy becomes a settled posture of the heart.<\/p>\n

The parable sharpens the contrast. The king cancels a debt beyond repayment, but the servant who walks free violently demands a much smaller sum. He receives mercy without allowing it to change how he sees his companion.<\/p>\n

We cannot repay God for his mercy either. We receive it as a gift that rebuilds us and makes us able to offer others what we first received.<\/p>\n

Forgiving from the heart does not make the wound insignificant. It means remembering that the wound does not have the final word and choosing mercy again whenever it is needed.<\/p>\n

A community that learns forgiveness does not hide wrongdoing. It names the harm, seeks justice and accompanies healing without allowing revenge to take God\u2019s place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
02<\/div>\n

Meditatio<\/p>\n

What the Word says to me<\/h2>\n
\u201cNot seven times, but seventy times seven.\u201d<\/div>\n

Peter believes he is being remarkably generous, yet he is still keeping count. God\u2019s mercy is not a ledger of offences. It remains ready to restore and give life because every one of us needs a new beginning.<\/p>\n

Do I truly forgive, or do I keep a private count of the times I have been hurt?<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless you forgive your brother or sister from the heart.\u201d<\/div>\n

When mercy shapes our life together, our relationships grow freer and more just. We do not approve the wrong. We name it, address it and learn again how to live as brothers and sisters. Forgiveness from the heart makes the Father\u2019s mercy visible.<\/p>\n

Can I offer others the mercy that I myself have received from God?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
03<\/div>\n

Oratio<\/p>\n

What I say to God<\/h2>\n
\n

Our good Father finds greater joy
\nin one sinner who turns back
\nthan in ninety-nine righteous people
\nwho have no need of repentance.<\/p>\n

We too feel deep joy
\nwhen we hear the Gospel stories
\nof the wandering sheep,
\nthe lost coin
\nand the son who came home.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Saint Augustine (Confessions 8, 3, 6\u20138)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
04<\/div>\n

Contemplatio<\/p>\n

Keep me mindful of you, Lord<\/h2>\n
\n

In the silence\u2026<\/p>\n

Peter asks his question from within a world of counting, much like our own.<\/p>\n

Jesus answers with a mercy that refuses a limit.<\/p>\n

Stay with the parable and allow its contrast to reach your heart.<\/p>\n

Let him look at you<\/p>\n

\u201cShould you not have shown mercy too?\u201d<\/p>\n

Remember the times when you have received God\u2019s forgiveness, patience and mercy. Notice how continually that mercy surrounds you.<\/p>\n

Remain<\/p>\n

Acknowledge that you also need forgiveness, love and a life rebuilt.
\nPray slowly: \u201cLord, teach me to forgive as you forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

To contemplate is to turn our gaze inward, to the place where God dwells.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
05<\/div>\n

Communicatio<\/p>\n

In community<\/h2>\n

In him we are one<\/p>\n

\n

Share<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speak about what the Lord has stirred in the heart.<\/p>\n

Which word or moment touched me most?
\nWhat have I discovered about God\u2019s mercy and the invitation he gives me today?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Discern<\/strong><\/p>\n

Listen together for what the Lord may be saying to the community.<\/p>\n

What is he saying about the way we forgive one another?
\nWhat needs to change so that our relationships become more merciful?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Walk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Choose one concrete act of mercy.<\/p>\n

What can I do this week?
\nHow can we help one another to live forgiveness and reconciliation?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Restless, we go forth;
\nforgiven, we forgive;
\ntogether, we live mercy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Prayer<\/p>\n

\n

Thank you, my Lord,
\nfor all you have given me
\nand inspired within me in this moment.<\/p>\n

May my restless heart
\nnever cease to burn
\nuntil at last it rests in you,
\nthe one true love.<\/p>\n

May everything be for the greater glory of your name,
\nas we become one mind
\nand one heart directed towards you,
\nour God.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Prayer<\/p>\n

For Vocations<\/h2>\n
\n

Lord our God,
\nlet the call of your voice reach many hearts.<\/p>\n

May they rise and learn to live as one in you.<\/p>\n

Prepare their hearts through your Word,
\nso that they may bring good news to the poor
\nand care for your abundant harvest.<\/p>\n

May all whom you call to Augustinian Recollect life
\nhear your voice
\nand have the courage to do your will.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

And now\u2026<\/p>\n

Let yourself be moved \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

dejate.inquietar.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

PredicAR \u00b7 Augustinian Recollects<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lectio Divina for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, on Matthew 18:21-35: forgiving from the heart and living out mercy without keeping score.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":5874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[342],"tags":[523,522,344,345,521,346,525,526,349,350,463,465,524,357,461,358,359,527,348,366],"class_list":["post-5873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lectio","tag-21-35","tag-24th-sunday-in-ordinary-time","tag-augustinian-recollect","tag-augustinian-recollects","tag-compassion","tag-cycle-a","tag-forgiveness","tag-forgiving-from-the-heart","tag-inquietar","tag-lectio-divina","tag-matthew-18","tag-mercy","tag-parable-of-the-unmerciful-servant","tag-predicar","tag-reconciliation","tag-saint-augustine","tag-saint-thomas-of-villanova","tag-seventy-times-seven","tag-sunday-gospel","tag-vocations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5873"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5907,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5873\/revisions\/5907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inquietar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}