PATHWAYS OF HOPE: “AS MANY TIMES AS YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary TimeMemorial of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, priest of the Order of the Friars Minor Conventual and MartyrMemorial of St. Eusebius, Roman, Founder of the homonymous church on the EsquilinoPATHWAYS OF HOPE: “AS MANY TIMES AS YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN”[GOSPEL OF THE DAY]: MATTHEW 18 : 21 –19 : 1Peter 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 kingwho 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 servantlet him go and forgave him the loan.When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servantswho 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 prisonuntil 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 torturersuntil 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 Galileeand went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.Reflection by Paulo de Alba : Training Manager-Alba Restaurante Espańol. Pastoral Leader South University District-Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. #POHopgiver #LandasngPagasa #catholic #biblereadings #jesus #catholicchurch #christian #church #faith #god #jesuschrist #love #pray #bible #christianity #prayer #hope #gospel