THE WORD BECCAME FLESH

Thursday of 19^th Week in Ordinary time, 2022

Ezek 12:1-12

Ps 78

Matt 18:21-19:1

Memorial of St Clare

Forgive…

Dear friends in Christ, one common challenge several people face is, forgiving the other person. Often when one is hurting, it is difficult to think about forgiveness, not talk of attempting it. We sometimes even take it literally that, ‘to err is human and to forgive is divine,’ therefore some think it is just right to hold the grudge at least for a while. How should we handle it? We celebrate today as well, the memorial of St Clare. She was born in Assisi and was influenced by the life of St Francis of Assisi. Under his guidance, Clare began a community that eventually became the order of the ‘Poor Clares.’ She was later joined by her sister and her widowed mother. She lived in radical attachment to poverty and desired a community that will own nothing by depending on alms for its sustenance. She was a noted contemplative and mother to her nuns.

Our first reading today (Ezekiel 12:1-12) presents one of the symbolic actions of the prophet Ezekiel, which was meant to serve as a warning before the fall of Jerusalem. He was instructed by God to act out the exodus into slavery, by making a hole in the wall of his house, and to go out in the full glare of the people with only his backpack like someone leaving in a hurry for exile; unable to take with him his priced belongings. He returned by the morning to deliver the message and meaning of his action, “I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them: they shall go into exile, into captivity. and the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; he shall dig through the wall and go out through it, he shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes.” God was sending the prophet that they might repent and be forgiven.

The gospel of today (Matthew 18:21-19:1) reveals the sharp contrast between God and humans, in forgiving. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” In a culture where one is free to retaliate on the third count, seven is a great act of generosity. That for Jesus was not enough. He told Peter, “I do not say to you seven, but seventy times seven.” Jesus went on to use the parable of the unforgiving servant to explain his response. While the master forgave a servant who was owing him an amount he would not be able to pay back, the same servant got his fellow jailed, for not immediately paying back something little that was owed him. God forgives us even if we do not think he would. He pardons us for our trespasses of his laws. Should we not forgive one another? When we are pained and hurting, we must remember how we have first been forgiven by God and then remember that we can have no peace of mind, for as long as we refuse to forgive.

Let us pray: Lord, in a time of hurt and pain, give me the courage to pray with you, ‘Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.’ Amen. 

+Remain blessed