OPUS DEI LIX

However, if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector. In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

PRAYER IN COMMON Matthew 18:19-20

“In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.”

FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter went up to him and said, “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me; as often as seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.”

PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING DEBTOR Matthew 18:23-35

“And so the kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle he accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife, children, and all of his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet, with the words, “Be patient with me and I will pay the whole sum.” The servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as the servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him, saying, “Pay what you owe me.” His fellow servant fell at his feet and appealed to him, saying, “Be patient with me and I will pay you.” However, the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison until he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for the man and said to him, “You are a wicked servant, I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” In his anger, the master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all his debt. That is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.”