Celtic Odyssey

  Matthew 18:21-35 (TIB [1] ; adapted): Peter came up and asked Jesus, “When a sister or brother wrongs me, how many times must I forgive? Seven times?” 22 “No,” Jesus replied, “not seven times; I tell you seventy times seven. 23 And here’s why. “The [Realm] of heaven is like a ruler who decided to settle accounts with the royal officials. 24 When the audit was begun, one was brought in who owed tens of millions of dollars. 25 As the debtor had no way of paying, the ruler ordered this official to be sold, along with family and property, in payment of the debt.  26 “At this, the official bowed down in homage and said, ‘I beg you, your highness, be patient with me and I will pay you back in full!’ 27 Moved with pity, the ruler let the official go and wrote off the debt. 28 “Then that same official went out and met a colleague who owed the official twenty dollars. The official seized and throttled this debtor with the demand, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 29 “The deb...

Romans 13:8-14 (CEB; adapted): [1] Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law. 9 The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have , and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law. 11 As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. 12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. 14 Instead, dress yourself with the [King], Jesus [the] Christ...