Josh 3:7-10a.11.13-17; Matthew 18

Memorial of Blessed Isidore Bakanja, Martyr
Readings on p.1156 and Antiphons on p 1894 of the Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon
This truly is a Martyr, who shed her blood for the name of Christ, who did not fear the threats of judges but attained the heavenly kingdom.

First Reading: Joshua 3:7-10a.11.13-17

A reading from the Book of Joshua

In those days:
The Lord said to Joshua,
“This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know that,
as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
And you shall command the priests
who bear the ark of the covenant,
‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan,
you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

And Joshua said to the Israelites,
“Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.”
And Joshua said,
“Hereby, you shall know that the living God is among you,
and that he will without fail
drive out from before you the Canaanites.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth
is to pass over before you into the Jordan.
And when the soles of the feet of the priests
who bear the ark of the Lord,
the Lord of all the earth,
shall rest in the waters of the Jordan,
the waters of the Jordan shall be stopped from flowing,
and the waters coming down from above
shall stand in one heap”.

So when the people sit out from there tents,
to pass over the Jordan
with the priest sparing the ark of the covenant
before the people,
and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan,
and the feet of the priests bearing the ark
were dipped in the brink of the water
(the Jordan overflows all its banks
throughout the time of harvest),
the waters coming down from above stood
and rose up in a heap far off,
at Adam, the city that is besides Zarethan,
and those fowing down toward the sea of the Arabah,
the Salt Sea,
were wholly cut off;
and the people passed over opposite Jericho.
And while all Israel were passing over on dry ground,
the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord
stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan,
until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 114:1-2.3-4.5-6

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. Alleluia

When Israel came forth from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a foreign people,
Judah became his temple,
Israel became his domain.

The sea beheld them and fled;
the Jordan turned back on its course.
The mountains leapt like rams,
and the hills like yearling sheep.

Why was it, sea, that you fled;
that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?
O mountains, that you leapt like rams;
O hills, like yearling sheep?

R/. Alleluia

Please stand for the Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your face shine forth on your servant,
and teach me your decrees.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-19:1

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time:
Peter came up and said to Jesus,
“Lord, how often shall 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 times seven.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven may be compared
to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the reckoning,
one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;
and as he could not pay,
his lord 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,
‘Lord, have patience with me,
and I will pay you everything.’

And out of pity for him,
the lord of that servant released him
and forgave him the debt.
But that same servant, as he went out,
came upon one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii;
and seizing him by the throat, he said,
‘Pay what you owe.’

So his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him,
‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’

He refused; and went and put him in prison
till 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 lord
all that had taken place.
Then his lord summoned him and said to him,
‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me;
and should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant,
as I had mercy on you?’
And in anger, his lord delivered him to the jailers.
till 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 or sister from your heart.”

Now when Jesus had finished these sayings,
he went away from Galilee
and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

The Gospel of the Lord

Communion Antiphon
I am the vine and you are the branches, says the Lord; whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit.