Homily for Tuesday, Week 3 of Lent

Homily for Tuesday
3d Week of Lent

March 10, 2026
Ps 25: 4-9
Dan 3: 25, 34-43
Matt 18: 21-35                           
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

3 youths in the fiery furnace
(Catacomb of St. Priscilla)

“Remember your mercies, O Lord” (Psalm Response).

The book of Daniel presents to us the plea for forgiveness and for the Lord’s kindness flowing from one of the 3 young men in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace.  The youths have been faithful to the Lord, which is why they’re in the furnace, but Israel hasn’t been faithful.  So Azariah prays that the people be delivered from punishment.

Jesus’ parable also involves pleas for mercy; not for complete forgiveness but for temperance:  “Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back in full” (Matt 18:26,29).  These pleas are Jesus’ response to Peter’s inquiry about forgiving someone who’s sinned against him (18:21), no doubt seeking some limit on forbearance.  Also no doubt, Peter speaks for most of us.

The responsorial psalm captures well Jesus’ message; we ask the Lord for that mercy he customarily bestows:  “Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your kindness are from of old” (Ps 25:6).

Most likely, no one here holds a long grudge against one of his brothers.  I suppose it’s possible, theoretically, someone might yet hold some old resentment against a superior.  In the nature of religious life, sometimes obedience or just daily life will irk us, fairly or unfairly.  Even as we desire to be treated kindly by our brothers and our superiors—and the Lord—we must be kind and patient with those superiors of yore and our present companions.

Ordinary daily life demands of us patience and mercy, all the time.  Brothers sometimes annoy us, sometimes persistently.  There’s the brother who sniffles constantly instead of blowing his  nose; the brother whose prayer is always a syllable or 2 behind everyone else’s; the brother who’s grouchy for no particular reason; the brother who can’t remember anything no matter how often he’s reminded.

May the Lord “teach the humble his way” (Ps 25:9), teach us compassion, patience, and forgiveness.