24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMES 13TH SEPTEMBER 2026

The passage brings together three important Christian teachings, divine wisdom, respect for conscience, and the necessity of forgiveness within the Christian community.

Ben Sira, a wise Jewish teacher associated with the Temple in Jerusalem, deeply respected the Temple and the Law of God. His teachings reflect the wisdom of earlier generations and emphasize that true wisdom ultimately comes from God. Much of his advice is practical common sense, but its central message is deeply spiritual: God is merciful and compassionate, and human beings, created in God’s image, are called to imitate this mercy. Forgiveness should therefore shape our relationships with others. Quarrelling and resentment are ultimately foolish because they damage relationships and contradict God’s example.

Paul, writing to the Christians in Rome, emphasizes the importance of respecting another person’s conscience. He discusses disagreements about whether Christians should eat meat that had previously been offered to idols. Although Paul has his own convictions, he does not force them upon others. Christians possess dignity, freedom, and responsibility because Christ’s Spirit guides them. Therefore, believers should listen both to the teaching of the Church and to the Spirit working within their own consciences. Paul challenges Christians to examine whether their decisions are genuinely guided by faith or merely by stubbornness and self-interest.

Matthew’s Gospel presents forgiveness as essential to Christian community life through the parable of the unforgiving servant. Since disagreements and offences are unavoidable, forgiveness becomes necessary for maintaining and strengthening relationships. The parable expands the Lord’s Prayer, particularly the request to forgive others as we seek God’s forgiveness. The enormous difference between the debts in the story highlights the contrast between God’s immense mercy and the small grievances people often refuse to forgive. The message is clear, those who receive God’s forgiveness must extend that forgiveness to others. Christian community can flourish only when mercy, understanding, freedom, and reconciliation replace resentment, judgment, and conflict.

Fr Jerome Otitoyomi Dukiya