3rd Week of Lent 2024 - Tuesday - To forgive is divine

Forgiveness is a profound act that holds immense power to transform not only our relationships with others but also our own hearts. It's a theme woven throughout our Scriptures, including the Lord’s parables. Forgiveness is a cornerstone of the virtuous life. 

Forgiveness isn’t easy. And people often have varying motives for withholding forgiveness: When someone has been deeply hurt or betrayed, the pain they experience can make it difficult to forgive. They may feel a person doesn't deserve forgiveness or that  forgiveness would let the other person off the hook or condone their behavior. Feelings of anger and resentment can be powerful barriers to forgiveness. Forgiveness requires vulnerability and openness to the possibility of being hurt again. Some people may withhold forgiveness out of fear of being hurt or taken advantage of again in the future.

This Lenten morning we read the Lord’s parable of the Unforgiving servant—a servant who had been forgiven his debt from his master, but who in turn refused to forgive his fellow servant. 

What was his motive for withholding forgiveness? It’s not entirely clear—was it greed? Or simply wanting to exert power over someone he had control? Did he want to feel like the big shot? He may have simply lacked empathy or wisdom. He was perhaps so egocentric or foolish that he failed to recognize the mercy he was shown was to be practiced toward others. 

Whatever his reason, the Lord Jesus is clear. He failure to forgive is despicable, unacceptable, and inexcusable. The measure with which we measure shall be measured out to us. Our failure to forgive will have eternal consequences. 

Saint Padre Pio spoke about the difficult of forgiveness. He said, "In the course of your life, you will often find yourself in situations where you have to forgive others, even when you feel they don't deserve it. But remember, forgiveness isn't something you do for the other person; it's something you do for yourself to free yourself from the burden of anger and resentment."

Forgiveness is something you do for yourself, for the sake of your own soul. Carrying around resentment and anger is spiritually poisonous. Refusing forgiveness is unholy. 

But offering forgiveness even when you don’t feel the person deserves it is a reflection of God’s own mercy because, remember, we did nothing to deserve God’s mercy. God forgave us in our most undeserving state. But it is precisely this extension of this type of mercy that Jesus calls us to. 

To err is human, to forgive is divine. May take the duty to forgive with the utmost seriousness, allowing it to heal our wounds, mend our relationships, set us free to live with greater compassion and joy, and lead us to eternal life, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.

2nd Week of Lent 2022 - Monday - The depths of mercy

Both the reading from Daniel and the Gospel speak of God’s mercy.  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” the Lord instructs in today’s Gospel.

How has God been merciful toward us? “He has loved us even when we were sinners” writes St. Paul to the Romans. Lent invites us to meditate upon God’s mercy upon us. It follows that we will come to a deeper understanding of God’s mercy when we come to understand the depths of our sinfulness.

When I consider how vile my sins are, I’ll also come to understand how good God is for forgiving me. When I consider how much I’ve lost due to falling into sin, I’ll also come to understand how much has been given back to me by God through his mercy. In a sense, the depths of our wretchedness also reveals the depths of God’s love because God’s love reaches the depths of our wretchedness.

Now, many people don’t like to think about their sins. They don’t like to confront how rude they’ve been, how impatient, how cowardly, how undisciplined, how morally weak. They avoid any sort of real examination of their actions and attitudes.

This is one reason why people stray from religion or avoid religion. They don’t want the reminders of their failings. They don’t want to hear about the goodness of Jesus, the goodness of the saints. Because these stories expose their own lack of goodness. They certainly don’t want to hear about the commandments or moral teachings of the church which serve as an objective criteria for their actions to be judged. 

But, the Christian is taught to humbly admit his sins, to measure his actions against the perfect goodness of Jesus. And to willingly do so. And yes, it is uncomfortable discovering how far we’ve fallen. But this is also to discover how much we are loved. And this consciousness of one’s sinfulness becomes a powerful foundation for the Christian life. For the one who is deeply aware of the mercy he has received from God, will in turn show mercy towards others.  Those who give little reflect little on what they’ve been given. Those who give much, have reflected much on what they’ve received.

We have been loved even when we were sinners, and so we are impelled into the world to do the same. We feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, not because they are worthy of our love, but because we have been loved when were unworthy by God.

St. Francis de Sales once said, “the measure of love is to love without measure”.  God has loved us without measure. May we extend that same measure of love to others, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring to all people purification of sin and selfishness.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence. And for all victims of the coronavirus and their families. And for the Church in China and all places where the Gospel is silenced.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

.