Consequence of Poor Judgement

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to the role of forgiveness in achieving fullness of life.

Forgiveness and Life

The reading from the Prophet Ezekiel is a portrayal of Judah’s captivity.

* [12:3–10] An exile’s bag contains bare necessities, probably no more than a bowl, a mat, and a waterskin. The prophet’s action foreshadows the fate of ruler and people (vv. 11–14). (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)

Psalm 78 praises God’s Goodness and Israel’s Ingratitude.

* [Psalm 78] A recital of history to show that past generations did not respond to God’s gracious deeds and were punished by God making the gift into a punishment. Will Israel fail to appreciate God’s act—the choosing of Zion and of David? The tripartite introduction invites Israel to learn the lessons hidden in its traditions (Ps 78:1–4, 5–7, 8–11); each section ends with the mention of God’s acts. (Psalms, PSALM 78, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant to teach 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.)

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Living Space comments that King Zedekiah's eyes were put out before he was brought off to Babylon (see 2 Kings 25). The king’s blindness is a symbol of the blindness of the whole people.

In the Gospel Jesus frequently is seen healing the blind (those who cannot see) and the deaf (those who cannot hear) and the mute (those who cannot speak). These are afflictions all of us can suffer from and prevent us from knowing and carrying out what God wants in our lives.

Let us ask today for healing and docility to God’s will for us. “Lord, that I may see!” (Living Space Thursday of Week 19 of Ordinary Time – First Reading | Sacred Space, n.d.)

Living Space comments that we do not expect God to forgive us once or twice or any limited number of times but every time.

But, if that is true of our relationship with God, it also has to be true in our relationships with others. We can never refuse an offer of reconciliation. And, we might add, forgiveness is only complete when reconciliation takes place. (Living Space Thursday of Week 19 of Ordinary Time – Gospel | Sacred Space, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “How often shall I forgive?” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"When Peter asked him whether he should forgive his brother sinning against him up to seven times, the Lord replied, 'Not up to seven times but up to seventy times seven times'" In every way he teaches us to be like him in humility and goodness. In weakening and breaking the impulses of our rampant passions he strengthens us by the example of his leniency, by granting us in faith pardon of all our sins. For the vices of our nature did not merit pardon. Therefore all pardon comes from him. In fact, he pardons even those sins that remain in one after confession. The penalty to be paid through Cain was established at sevenfold, but that sin was against a man, against his brother Abel, to the point of murder (Genesis 4:8). But in Lamech the penalty was established at seventy times seven times (Genesis 4:24), and, as we believe, the penalty was established on those responsible for the Lord's Passion. But the Lord through the confession of believers grants pardon for this crime. By the gift of baptism he grants the grace of salvation to his revilers and persecutors. How much more is it necessary, he shows, that pardon be returned by us without measure or number. And we should not think how many times we forgive, but we should cease to be angry with those who sin against us, as often as the occasion for anger exists. Pardon's frequency shows us that in our case there is never a time for anger, since God pardons us for all sins in their entirety by his gift rather than by our merit. Nor should we be excused from the requirement of giving pardon that number of times [i.e., seventy times seven], since through the grace of the gospel God has granted us pardon without measure." (excerpt from ON MATTHEW 18.10) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 18:21–19:1 comments that though the mind acknowledges, “I have to forgive,” the heart declares, “It’s too hard.” But Jesus assures us that it’s not impossible. He is not issuing an ultimatum—forgive or else; he’s extending an invitation. He is offering us a chance to exchange the weight of unforgiveness for the light mantle of our Father’s love, a chance to set our own heart free as we forgive.

And then, in the light of God’s merciful love, make the decision to cancel the debt. Ask the Spirit to help you, especially when it seems hard. Forgive. Seventy-seven times, if you have to. What starts as an act of the will can lead to an encounter with God. He will help you see the wounds you have endured from his perspective. He will also give you compassion for those who have hurt you, even those who have hurt you deeply.

Let Jesus heal you so that you can forgive from the heart. Let him help you replace the IOU in it with his love and mercy.

“Lord, you know where my heart is hard. Please help me want to forgive!” (Meditation on Matthew 18:21–19:1, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the symbolic act of Ezekiel prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem during the 587 BCE exile to Babylon. Seven as the “perfect number” suggests that forgiveness may be extended for an infinite number of times, yet Jesus multiplies “infinity” in His response. Friar Jude reminds us that harm we endure is a symptom of the brokenness of the offender that we need to try to heal.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Cole Arthur Riley honors her own embodied reality more deeply.

I believe that the spiritual realm is so enmeshed with the physical that it is imperceptible. I believe in the mysterious nearness of my ancestors, but I believe they are located at the site of my own blood and bone.

The chasm between the spiritual and the physical is not greater than that between a thought and a word. They cannot be disconnected. And it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins, perhaps because there is no such place.

(Rohr, n.d.)

Scholar and activist Christena Cleveland studied Black Madonnas around the world and described how their diverse and inclusive bodies encouraged generous acceptance of her own body.

The four-hundred-fifty plus Black Madonnas around the world encompass a wide range of skin colors, hair textures, body sizes, and ages. Some are pregnant. Some are breastfeeding with proudly exposed breasts. Some are gender nonconforming. The one thing they all have in common is that they are Black and they are holy. Seeing these diverse liberating images of the Sacred Black Feminine helped me relax into my body because I was able to relax into Her diverse and inclusive body. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are prompted by the Spirit to forgive offences even as we seek forgiveness for our trespasses against others.

References

Ezekiel, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/12?1 

Living Space Thursday of week 19 of Ordinary Time – First Reading | Sacred Space. (n.d.). Living Space Sacred Space. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/o2195r/ 

Living Space Thursday of week 19 of Ordinary Time – Gospel | Sacred Space. (n.d.). Sacred Space: Living Space. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/o2195g/ 

Matthew, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18 

Meditation on Matthew 18:21–19:1. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://wau.org/

Psalms, PSALM 78. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/78 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/sacred-bodies-2022-08-11/    

Schwager, D. (n.d.). How often shall I forgive? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug11 

The fruit of our lives

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine how the environment  in which we live impacts our trust in God and our actions to address the needs of others.

Fruit of our lives

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah presents True Wisdom.

They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream:1

 

Psalm 1 describes the Two Ways.

* [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.2

 

The Gospel of Luke is the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

* [16:19–31] The parable of the rich man and Lazarus again illustrates Luke’s concern with Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor. The reversal of the fates of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:22–23) illustrates the teachings of Jesus in Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” (Lk 6:20–21, 24–25).3

 

Mirielle Mason comments that while it may be clear that the rich man should have helped financially or perhaps brought Lazarus to a doctor, it is oftentimes less clear how we are supposed to provide assistance to others. The first step is identifying a situation in which our actions could have an impact.

Therefore, I believe a lot can be gained by examining what gifts we have been given. What have we been blessed with in our lives? Can we share that with others? What are we being called on to give? I am reminded of the widow in Mark 12:41-44 who gives only two small copper coins to the temple. Jesus teaches that the widow gave more that day than the rich, in order to prove the power of giving, and how it looks different for everyone.4

 

Don Schwager quotes “Creator of both rich and poor,” by Augustine of Hippo, 3540-430 A.D.

"God made both the rich and the poor. So the rich and the poor are born alike. You meet one another as you walk on the way together. Do not oppress or defraud anyone. One may be needy and another may have plenty. But the Lord is the maker of them both. Through the person who has, He helps the one who needs - and through the person who does not have, He tests the one who has." (excerpt from Sermon 35, 7)5

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 17:5-10 asks how do we stretch our roots to the Lord when we feel dry and thirsty? As difficult as it can sometimes be in those times, we need to keep looking to the Lord and seeking his grace in regular daily prayer, in the Scriptures, and in the sacraments. Though the Lord might seem to be far away, in truth he is very near to us; we just can’t sense him at that moment.

Jeremiah’s wisdom reminds us that we are indeed blessed if we trust in the Lord and place all our hope in him. That hope will never disappoint, for the dryness and spiritual drought that we may feel will last only for a time. We know that we can count on the goodness and faithfulness of our God. He will strengthen our faith during the drought and give us great joy when he sends us his life-giving water once again. “Lord, water our ‘roots’ with the life-giving water of your Spirit so that we might draw closer to you.”6

 

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the tree by the water in Jeremiah calls us to trust in God as human motivations can be self serving. In the Gospel, Lazarus is named but the name of the rich man is not mentioned. Friar Jude reminds us that our call to charity is a theme for Lent.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Christena Cleveland. Her research of Black Madonnas was not simply an intellectual project; it changed her entire perspective of God and how God loves the world.

Within seconds of viewing photos of the Black Madonnas, my gut shifted from terror to hope. Before I even read a word about the Black Madonna, my soul immediately recognized that these photos and drawings of ancient Black Madonnas declared a truth about my own sacredness and gave birth to a new understanding of God. I call Her the Sacred Black Feminine. She is the God who is with and for Black women because She is a Black woman. She is the God who definitively declares that Black women—who exist below Black men and white women at the bottom of the white male God’s social pecking order—not only matter but are sacred. And in doing so, She declares that all living beings are sacred.7

 

We seek to be open to the Spirit leading us to see, love, and care for people outside our comfortable pew.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Jeremiah, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/17
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/1
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/16
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031722.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=mar17
6	(n.d.). Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations for March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/03/17/331015/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://cac.org/the-power-of-the-black-madonna-2022-03-17/