Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FORGIVENESS

Nearly ten years before, a son and father had parted ways when the business they shared went bankrupt. The son blamed the father. They did not speak to each other again.

Then the father became seriously ill. The mother called the son and told him he had better come soon. The son walked sheepishly into the hospital room. The father motioned his son to him and whispered: “Did you ever think you could do anything that would keep me from loving you?”

Resentment and anger are foul things, the first reading from Sirach tells us. Remember the last things. Stop hating. Live by the commandments. As Saint Paul writes to the Romans, we are to live for the Lord and die for the Lord.

Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel reminds us of God’s compassion. The immense sin of humanity has been forgiven and stricken from the record. We are to forgive others in the same way.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Masses for the Week

• Sun. Sept. 13 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM — Spanish
• Mon. Sept. 14 8:30 AM
• Weds. Sept. 16 8:30 AM & 6:30 PM
• Thurs. Sept. 17 8:30 AM
• Fri. Sept. 18 8:30 AM
• Sat. Sept. 19 8:30 AM & 5:30 PM
• Sun. Sept. 20 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM — Spanish

Announcements

Religious Education — Registration Closes Sept. 27

Registration for Religious Education is still open. Scan the QR code in the hall to fill out the registration form and pick up a parent packet. In order to preserve continuity of learning, registration will close Sunday, September 27th.

Religious Education & OCIA — Sundays 10:15–11:30

Religious Education and OCIA will meet at 10:15 – 11:30 on Sundays.

RCIA Class — Sundays 10:15–11:30 in the Vestibule

If you are interested in becoming Catholic or want to learn more about your faith, RCIA class will meet in the vestibule on Sundays at 10:15–11:30. This class is also for those baptized Catholics who have not received First Communion or Confirmation.

Knights of Columbus — Meeting Mon., Sept. 14 at 6:30 PM

The Knights of Columbus will meet Mon., Sept. 14 at 6:30 pm. All men of the parish are welcome.

Retrouvaille — Help for Struggling Marriages

Do you need Retrouvaille? Has your romance faded? Do you argue without reaching resolution? Are you more like roommates than soul mates? Have you grown apart? Is your marriage in crisis? Why wait for a better marriage?

Retrouvaille can help you: rebuild your emotional connection, learn healthy communication methods, manage conflicts effectively, forgive and rebuild trust, and rediscover your love. Join us March 6–8, 2026. For more information, email nashville@helpourmarriage.org, visit helpourmarriage.org, or call 931-820-2115.

Did You Know? — Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Ministries

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Ministries provides support for vital ministries, seminarian training, religious education for all ages, youth and children’s ministries and support for the poor and needy throughout our diocese. Join donors in our parish as we work towards our collective goal this year of $11,000. Give online at www.dioceseofnashville.com/appeal or mail to Diocese: Bishop’s Appeal, 2800 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214.

Online Giving

Here is the established QR code for the parish if you would like to make your donation online.

Today’s Readings

First Reading: Remember the commandments and hate not your neighbor (Sirach 27:30 — 28:7).

Psalm: The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion (Psalm 103).

Second Reading: Whether we live, or whether we die, we do so for the Lord (Romans 14:7-9).

Gospel: Forgive one another from your heart (Matthew 18:21-35).

Readings for the Week

Monday: 1 Tm 2:1-8; Ps 28:2, 7-9; Lk 7:1-10

Tuesday: 1 Tm 3:1-13; Ps 101:1b-3ab, 5-6; Lk 7:11-17

Wednesday: 1 Tm 3:14-16; Ps 111:1-6; Lk 7:31-35

Thursday: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Ps 19:2-5; Mt 9:9-13

Friday: 1 Tm 6:2c-12; Ps 49:6-10, 17-20; Lk 8:1-3

Saturday: 1 Tm 6:13-16; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 8:4-15

Sunday: Is 55:6-9; Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; Phil 1:20c-24, 27a; Mt 20:1-16a

Reflecting on the Word

Peter has been given charge of the church that Jesus will build on earth, and he is told that his judgments and decisions will be upheld by Jesus in Heaven. Peter is now the apprentice leader and feels pretty good about himself. When he comes to Jesus with his question about forgiveness, he thinks he is doing rather well in forgiving seven times (the number of perfection). He is proud of his accomplishment! Jesus does not miss a beat as he comes back with the parable that gives us a new way to look at forgiveness.

I am the first to admit that forgiveness is very hard for me. I am so much better at holding a grudge. The former is an attempt to love as God loves, and the latter is fueled by anger and resentment. We may be justified in our anger and resentment. We may be suffering because of the harm done to us. But Jesus does not give us room to make excuses. It is simple and clear: we must forgive others. And ourselves.

I demand explicit remorse before, and transformation after I have offered forgiveness. I think forgiveness and anger can exist side by side as we strive for justice and hold to account those who harm others out of greed and other vices. Forgiving a transgression implies that the transgressors will work on transformation and reconciliation, unlike the servant who is forgiven a large debt by his master but refuses to forgive his fellow servant a much smaller debt. There is no transformation in this servant. I feel like that servant sometimes—forgiven, but not forgiving. I suspect many of us would relate to that servant if we were honest with ourselves.

Excerpted from Living the Word

Mission Statement

We, the members of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, recognize and respect our diverse and multicultural character. By the grace of God, we will nurture our spiritual community through prayer, service, and example to become one family in Christ.

Adoration

8:00 AM — 1st Saturday of the month

7:00 PM — 1st & 3rd Friday (Spanish)