The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the healing we have received through mercy and compassion of people acting out the Will of God.
The reading from the Book of Daniel is the prayer of Azariah.
* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures. (Daniel, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 25 is a prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance.
* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant teaches about forgiveness.
* [18:21–35] The final section of the discourse deals with the forgiveness that the disciples are to give to their fellow disciples who sin against them. To the question of Peter how often forgiveness is to be granted (Mt 18:21), Jesus answers that it is to be given without limit (Mt 18:22) and illustrates this with the parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:23–34), warning that his heavenly Father will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:35). Mt 18:21–22 correspond to Lk 17:4; the parable and the final warning are peculiar to Matthew. That the parable did not originally belong to this context is suggested by the fact that it really does not deal with repeated forgiveness, which is the point of Peter’s question and Jesus’ reply. (Matthew, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Joan Blandin Howard comments that it is easy to forgive someone who has stepped on my toe, or bumped me in passing. A smile, a quick, polite “I’m sorry” and all is forgiven and forgotten. It is a different matter when a deep division occurs in a relationship. Or when separation or death occurs through negligence or intent.
In my own life, I can identify times when I have come to love through pain and forgiveness. Also, I see the stagnation in my own life, in relationships where I have not forgiven, or accepted forgiveness – not allowed healing, refused love. I have held the other and myself as if in stone. Forgiveness demands a conscious decision to allow the grace of God to work in and through me and the other. To love. I think I am only just beginning to appreciate the gift, the sacrament, of forgiveness. Some wounds heal slowly, some leave permanent scars. The Good News is that to be whole is to be blessed, wounded, scarred and loved. (Howard, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “A daily remedy for our sins,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. Let us say this sentence with sincerity, because it is an alms in itself. Sins that oppress and bury us cannot be termed trifles! What is more minute than drops of rain? Yet they fill the rivers. What is more minute than grains of wheat? Yet they fill the barns. You note the fact that these sins are rather small, but you do not take note that there are many of them. In any case, God has given us a daily remedy for them." (excerpt from Sermon 205,1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35 comments that we might set out to be forgiving, but it’s hard to follow through when someone hurts us, knowingly or not. It’s even more difficult to forgive the same person repeatedly if he or she hurts us repeatedly (Matthew 18:21-22). Yet as we get to know God’s character and reflect on his mercy toward us, we might find that his compassion moves us over time to become more merciful to the people around us.
The psalmist uses words like “compassion,” “goodness,” and “kindness” to describe the Lord (Psalm 25:6, 7).
Today, choose one of these words and reflect on it. Have you experienced God’s compassion or goodness or kindness for yourself? How are you experiencing it now? Let these experiences stay with you and help soften your heart each day so that it becomes more like his—a heart full of mercy and always ready to forgive and wipe the slate clean!
“Father, I want to be merciful as you are merciful. Give me a heart like yours.” (Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the prayer of Azariah calls on God to remember His Covenant and support the true contrition of His people. The perfect number, seven, indicates that Jesus is calling for an infinite number of times to forgive transgressors. Friar Jude reminds us that forgiveness opens our heart to be recipients of forgiveness from God and others.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Teresa of Ávila was investigated several times during the Spanish Inquisition. At the insistence of her superiors, she wrote of her many visions and raptures to prove they came from God, and that she was firmly rooted in “orthodox” Catholicism. Translator and spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr writes that Teresa was also an astute spiritual director who turned people away from an emphasis on perfection and piety and toward compassionate action.
Sometimes I observe people so diligently trying to orchestrate whatever state of prayer they’re in that they become peevish about it. They don’t dare to move or let their minds be stirred for fear of jeopardizing the slightest degree of devotion or delight. It makes me realize how little they understand of the path to union. They think the whole thing is about rapture.
But no, friends, no! What the Beloved wants from us is action. What he wants is that if one of your friends is sick, you take care of her. Don’t worry about interrupting your devotional practice. Have compassion. If she is in pain, you feel it, too. If necessary, you fast so that she can eat. This is not a matter of indulging an individual, you do it because you know it is your Beloved’s desire. This is true union with his will. What he wants is for you to be much happier hearing someone else praised than you would be to receive a compliment yourself. If you have humility, this is easy. It is a great thing to be glad when your friends’ virtues are celebrated. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We are reminded that forgiveness is a response to the prompting of the Spirit to make the Will of God present on our journey.
References
Daniel, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3?25
Howard, J. B. (2023, March 14). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031423.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?21
Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/14/630999/
Psalms, PSALM 25. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar14
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