A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart. Tuesday of the third week in Lent. As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of the stay to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you. You take over.

Become aware that he is with you

looking upon you with love

wanting to be heard deep

within your heart

a reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 18, verses 21 through 35.

Peter went up to Jesus 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 77 times. And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared

to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants.

When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed 10,000 talents, but he had

no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his

wife and children, and all his possessions to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master's feet.

Give me time, he said, and I will pay the whole sum.

And the servant's master felt sorry for him, and he let him go, and cancelled the debt.

Now, as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant

who owed him one hundred dinari, and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him.

Pay what you owe me, he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him saying,

Give me time and I will pay you.

But the other would not agree.

On the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt.

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