Word to the Wise
Monday, March 18, 2019 - 2nd Week of Lent - Mon
[Dan 9:4b-10 and Luke 6:36-38]"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." [Luke]
Lent is a time when many parishes schedule "reconciliation services" or "penance services." I recently participated in one of these as a visiting preacher/confessor and heard confessions in which the person said it had been twenty or more years since they had been to this sacrament! That is a long time to go without a formal experience of God's mercy! Sometimes the reason is that a previous confessor had not served them well. I truly wince when I hear that. Such conduct by a confessor is clearly contrary to the example and teaching of Jesus. Sometimes, however, it is because a person has done something wrong which they believe puts them outside of God's mercy. They consider themselves unforgivable!
There are sins that do challenge a person to do justice and not just say a few prayers as a "penance." There are also times when we are all challenged to show mercy even to someone whose life and actions are repulsive to us. My father said to me over and over, "Love the sinner; hate the sin!" Jesus challenges us to a level of mercy that we may not consider ourselves capable of. Yet, we ask for that mercy from God. The parable of the unforgiving servant in the Gospel According to Matthew [18:21-35] should be required reading for us in Lent. The parable of the prodigal son in the Gospel According to Luke [15:11-32] should also be added to that.
To be generous in all things but mercy is to accept Jesus' teaching with our fingers crossed. Lent is a good time to start uncrossing them. AMEN