Word to the Wise
Monday, November 10, 2014 - Monday in the 32th Week in Ordinary Time
[Titus 1:1-9 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." [Luke]
NOVEMBER 10, ST. LEO THE GREAT, pope
I remember a movie and song that proclaimed, "Love means you never have to say you're sorry!" That statement flatly contradicts the teaching of Jesus and, indeed, the very nature of love. Forgiveness is absolutely essential to true love. This is at the core of what Pope Francis has been proclaiming since his election in 2013. It is a message of "mercy." The gospel scripture for today from the Gospel of Luke echoes the Gospel of Matthew (ch. 18:15-35) which includes the parable of the unforgiving servant. I recommend reading this passage again and again.
It is important to understand that forgiveness and mercy do not mean that justice is forgotten. Nor does it mean that reconciliation can take place immediately or at all. Forgiveness is something we can do on our own, but reconcilation and justice require more than one person. However, a failure to forgive means that we continue to carry the burden of hatred, which makes love impossible! Jesus' teaching is good common sense, but we humans find it hard to embrace. We often prefer to cling to the hatred.
One way to remind ourselves of the necessity to forgive is to look carefully at the prayer which Jesus taught us. There is the line: "Forgive us our trespasses as WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US." That pretty much sums up the task ahead of us. AMEN