Word to the Wise
Monday, November 12, 2007 - St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
[Wisdom 1:1-7 and Luke 17:1-6]If your brother sins, rebuke him : and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him.
More than one Christian has read these lines and said, "How much do I have to put up with?" Jesus' response is: "A great deal!" How often must I forgive? "Every time there is repentance!" Then the "You mean I have to.........?" and "What if.........?" questions start flowing. Must the wife continue to submit to spousal abuse time after time? Must the serial abuser of children be allowed to continue? No, in both cases. Must the spouse and abuser be forgiven? If they repent, the answer is yes. How do we know if they truly repent? After all, we've seen plenty of repetitive abuse from these and others like them. The gospel doesn't prohibit controlling abusive people nor does it prohibit safeguards to prevent abusive and destructive behavior. The gospel does say we must forgive the sinner no matter how much we hate the sin! This teaching of Jesus' is much too clear to be somehow explained away so that we can retain our grudge or hatred. In fact, our failure to forgive means that the grudge or hatred continues to rule our life. Forgiving can be freeing. "But it's so hard to do!" Yes, that's true. It's hard to do. If is one of the most difficult crosses to pick up and follow after Jesus, who asked from the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." AMEN Note to the Beloved Congregation. Today I am flying to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago to preach a retreat for some cloistered Dominican nuns. I have done the reflections for the days I will be gone, and they will be posted as usual by my wonderful "webmaster," Craig Baker. If you do not receive your Word to the Wise, please contact Craig at . I will return on the day before Thanksgiving. Please pray for the journey and the retreat. Fr. R. B. Williams, O.P.