Today's readings: March 17, 2009
Reading One: Dn 3:25, 34-43;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 ;
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35; go to this page (for all three sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)
Today is a good day to contemplate forgiveness and mercy. Well, actually - every day is a good day for this, but why not actually do soething about this today. When folks get under our skin, or do something to us where we feel wronged, we are given a choice. We can either be mad at them, and hold onto this anger - or we can do what it takes to forgive them, in spite of what transpired. If you are blessed with the wisdom that comes from getting older, and learn life's lessons along the way, you will probably gain a good understanding that being angry and spiteful toward someone who did you wrong, is very much like a gun that shoots bullets in two directions. One toward the enemy, or the offending party, and unfortunately - the other bullet aims straight for your own heart. Yes, you actually shoot yourself - but not in the foot, the bullet goes straight for your own heart.
Or perhaps you find yourself on the other side of this equation - where you did something that offends another person, and a good friend won't forgive you. For your own well being, the answer again lies in forgiveness and mercy. Do you really want to return the animus pointed in your direction? I hope not. Forgive them, and know you really are sorry for what you did that offended them, and go further and forgive them for deciding to undermine the friendship you value. So many times in life, you will see that the anger and animus of righteous indignation gets passed along, to someone other than the person you are mad at in the first place. I remember an interesting story about this from Bishop Fulton Sheen. He compared this phenomenon to a line of people, where the first person slaps the second person. And then, for no good reason, or perhaps maybe there was a reason - the second person slaps the third person in line, and then the third person slaps the fourth person. This chain of anger will continue on down the line, until someone just stops the madness. They get slapped, and forgive. They really don't want to slap anyone else. Guess what - you can be that person.
Why don't you try and be that person today. Perhaps you have a friend that you at odds with, or perhaps a neighbor who you are annoyed with for making your dog crazy. Whatever it is - STOP being annoyed, and actually do something to repair the relationship. Step out of your box of anger, and rise above the madness that slaps back or worse - teaches your beautiful children to share the animus you feel toward your friend or neighbor. The anger you feel inside is a prison of your own making. You do have a choice. Choose to be a person who forgives and doesn't choose to hold onto the anger. Even if you have to forgive 77,000 times - the price of lugging around the animus, will not only weigh you down, it can even make you sick or kill you. And there's no time like now to make that choice. Put the key into the lock of your prison door, and let yourself be free. Trust Jesus on this - He knows what He is talking about. Forgive and you will be forgiven too. By the way, it feels great when you make this choice. But it your choice, stay angry if that is the path you want walk on. If you think about it however, you will what is best for you. Anger and animus - or forgiveness and freedom from the stress of hate. This isn't really rocket science here folks. Go with the choice that makes your burden light, or fill up your soul with a bunch of heavy rocks.
