READINGS FOR SUNDAY, September 13, 2026
A Reading from the Book Sirach (27:30-28:7).
30 Anger and wrath, these also are abominations,
yet a sinner holds on to them.
1 The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,
for he keeps a strict account of their sins.
2 Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done,
and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3 Does anyone harbor anger against another,
and expect healing from the Lord?
4 If one has no mercy toward another like himself,
can he then seek pardon for his own sins?
5 If a mere mortal harbors wrath,
who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?
6 Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside;
remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
7 Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor;
remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.
Psalm 103:1-14. Legem pone.
1 Praise the Lord O my soul; *
and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, *
and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thy sin, *
and healeth all thine infirmities;
4 Who saveth thy life from destruction, *
and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, *
making thee young and lusty as an eagle.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment *
for all them that are oppressed with wrong.
7 He showed his ways unto Moses, *
his works unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lᴏʀᴅ is full of compassion and mercy, *
long-suffering, and of great goodness.
9 He will not alway be chiding; *
neither keepeth he his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; *
nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.
11 For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth; *
so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him.
12 Look how wide also the east is from the west; *
so far hath he set our sins from us.
13 Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; *
even so is the Lᴏʀᴅ merciful unto them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth whereof we are made; *
he remembereth that we are but dust.
A Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans (15:5-12).
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew (18:15-20).
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?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times."Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 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. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 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.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 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. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."