Homily 2009
READINGS FOR TRINITY TWENTY-TWO
Holy Gospel:    Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  As many as seven times?  22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.  23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  25 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.  26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'  27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.  28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'  29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'  30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.  31 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.  32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?  34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.  35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."    
Old Testament Reading:  Micah 6:6-8
6 "With what shall I come before the Lord,
      and bow myself before God on high?
  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
       with calves a year old?
7  Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
       with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
        the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8  He has told you, O man, what is good;
        and what does the Lord require of you
   but to do justice, and to love kindness,
        and to walk humbly with your God?  

Epistle:   Philippians 1:3-11
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.  8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.  9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.