RBWords

     For years I have preached a parish mission in the first week of Lent.  The lectionary very conveniently sets the passage from the Sermon on the Mount, quoted above,  on Tuesday, when I hold a penance service!  These words immediately follow the Lord's Prayer!  They reinforce a line from that prayer, which we say thousands of times in our lives: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us!"  

     At the moment, I am in Amarillo, TX, to preach a parish mission at a parish I have been to before.  Tonight I will ask the attendees how many times they have prayed the Lord's Prayer in their lives.  I'll get a bemused response.  I'll then ask if they pay any attention to that line from the prayer, and point out the lines that follow the prayer, which are printed in the same size type!  The gospel passage that I read for the service also comes from Matthew [18:21-35], in which Jesus tells the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, who refuses mercy to someone right after receiving mercy.  The clear message and question for us to ask in Lent (and other times) is: " How merciful am I?"

     The examination of conscience I use for the service focuses on forgiveness and the people in our lives whom we need to forgive or ask forgiveness from!  It starts with God, then self, parents, siblings and relatives, friends, co-workers, professional people.  Last but not least, it includes "that one person who has hurt me the most - that one person I swore I would never forgive!"  

     The Sacrament of Reconciliation does not end when we receive absolution and say our little penance.  It is only just beginning and comes to fruition when we put skin on mercy!  AMEN