Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 13, 2026

Delivered by Michelle Jordyn Limata, Jeremy Derrel Kijaya, Clayton Yo and Nicole Orlincallysta Yakob from Saint Peter's School Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Sirach 27: 30 - 28: 9; Rs psalm 103: 1-2.3-4.9-10.11-12; Roma 14: 7-9; Matius 18: 21-35.A BIG HEART OF THE FORGIVER Our meditation on this 24th Sunday inordinary time has the theme: A Big Heart of the Forgiver. There was a couple,the husband and his wife, who celebrated the silver anniversary or 25 years ofmarriage and many people joined in to celebrate the party. The two of themdelivered a speech in front of the many people present and it was delivered inthe form of conversation. When one asked, the other was ready to answer. Whenone expressed his or her feeling, the other showed sympathy. If one made asuggestion or criticism, the other was humble to accept it. Of all the moment of that speech, one part which wasmost interesting and got big applause of those present was when they talkedabout each other's mistakes and sincere forgiveness toward each other. Thehusband spoke to his wive as he said in this way: "I have been alwaysforgiving you from the beginning of our marriage, and I will always do thesame." Then the wife also responded by saying the following expression:"I will always forgive you, because I have proven that forgiveness is nota difficult thing to do." The couple has proven that each of them had a bigheart as the forgiver. To be a genuine forgiver, it takes a great faith thatstands on a big heart, which is not given by anyone but God who is merciful.The Book of Sirach in the first reading tells us about how important it is toforgive the sins of our neighbors as a way of our obedience to God'scommandment to forgive. This same commandment is emphasized by Jesus Christwhen he speaks about parables told in today's Gospel. By giving an example offorgiveness, His commandment for us to forgive is a very powerful commandment.Such commandment is the same as the belief that if we are with God we aresaved, but without Him we will perish. For this reason, Saint Paul emphasizesthat our life and death is in God. The Lord Jesus teaches us the significance of a greatheart to forgive, is actually to give us an explicit statement and act offorgiveness. The offenders or those who have sinned against us need to see andto experience that our words and actions are the real forgiveness. Suchforgiveness should not be measured up to a number of times, namely in terms ofquantity, and also quality such as the limit of patience, tiredness, boredom,and surrender. Jesus had recognized this tendency of measuring the limits toforgive in His disciples and all of us. Therefore He emphasizes that a bigheart of the forgiver is the one who does not take into account the limits ofboth quantity and quality. He gives us the symbol of giving forgiveness 70times 7 times. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord, make our hearts gentle, that we mayforgive our neighbors without limit. If we are not strong enough to forgive,give us Your Spirit to enable us to forgive. Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...