WEDNESDAY, TWENTY FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Ezr 9: 5-9 Tb 13: 2-4, 7-8 Lk 9: 1-6
FORGIVE, AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU
Betrayal, treachery, infidelity, deceit are experiences that can leave us marred for life. And there are, perhaps, only a few who have not experienced these wounds, either to a greater or lesser extent. How difficult is it to trust again after such setbacks! And the dearer the perpetrator, the deeper the wounds and the more acute the pain. Though our relationship with others teach us this truth, we fail to amend our action at times, and such remains our repeated behaviour, in our relationship with God!
In today’s first reading, amidst all the festivity in the Temple, Ezra is the only one who has a heart to recognize his unworthiness, his and his ancestor’s slavery to sin and God’s infinite love and mercy; the infinite difference in the way God acts and the way we humans do. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Is 55: 8-9).
Our response to any breach of trust is anger, hatred, eternal distrust or revenge and we nurture these passions. However, the invitation we have today is to be like God who moves towards forgiveness and draws closer to us in kindness. This does not mean that we allow ourselves to be abused again. Rather, the invitation is to give up our right to hit back and wound in return for the wound received. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”: a prayer found on the lips of every Christian, a prayer taught by our Lord Himself by word and perfect example. Our sin cost Jesus His life. The sin we hold against our enemy has not cost us our life. Can we then, not forgive?
The power to forgive has been given to each of us by our Lord, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom 5:5). May we invoke the same Spirit, may we forgive and let ourselves be healed today.
Response: Blessed is God who lives for ever.
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