Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time — September 13, 2026

Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook and Instagram.

Click here for the readings.

Our readings begin today with a bit of divine wisdom: "Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight." Sirach then asks a piercing question: "Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?"

"Hugging anger tight" may seem satisfying for a moment, but it ultimately hurts us more than anyone else. I often think that the person I may be angry with is having a wonderful day while I am the one carrying the burden. That person may not even know I am upset. Anger, then, is like a cancer that slowly eats away at the soul of the one who refuses to let it go.
The solution? Forgive.

I know—it is much easier said than done. But it is also essential if we want to live with peace and freedom.

Jesus illustrates this truth in today's Gospel. He tells the story of a servant who is forgiven an enormous debt, only to demand repayment from a fellow servant who owes him a comparatively small amount. Having received extraordinary mercy, he refuses to show even a little. His master asks the question that echoes through every generation: "Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?"

The unforgiving servant ends up imprisoned by his own choices. Isn't that what anger so often does? It creates a prison of our own making. Too many people live there, tortured by the resentment, they continue to "hug tight."

Let's not be one of them.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending that evil never happened, nor does it mean placing ourselves back into harmful situations. Sometimes forgiveness also requires healthy boundaries and a new direction. But refusing to forgive only gives the past more power over the present.

So where do we begin when anger seems too deep to overcome?

We begin by remembering how much the Lord has forgiven us. The mercy we have received is never meant to stop with us; it is a gift to be shared. Every time we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us," we ask God not only to forgive us but also to transform our hearts. That prayer is meant to change us as much as it changes our relationship with others.

May we hear again the wisdom of Sirach: "Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?"

Have a blessed week, everyone.