Bound By Forgiveness

Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?
Mt.18:33

The unforgiving servant failed to fully receive the forgiveness offered him. He never paid it forward.

Forgiveness is by nature reciprocal. Once received it binds me to be forgiving. If I fail in this it shows I never received forgiveness in the first place. 

Jesus insists on this because of the power of forgiveness to heal. Imagine a world experiencing a wild outbreak of forgiveness, where foes laid down their arms and said, "Brother, forgive me. I was wrong."

Let's pray it in, starting with me. 

Forgive me Lord so I may forgive. 

Son or Slave

This son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.
Luke 15:24-32

No one is beyond the outrageous love and mercy of God. 

The father went out twice, once for each son. Mercy and Grace were offered to both. The younger son saw himself as a disinherited son. His sonship was restored. The older son saw himself as a slave and a slave he remained. 

How do I see myself? When I approach God, is it with the attitude, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed you."? Or is my attitude “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” Honestly, I'm a mix of both sons.

Son or Slave? How I see myself determines my identity. Ultimately, my identity should be that of the father, a channel of mercy, grace and love. 

Father, help me see myself rightly as you see me, infinitely lovable and infinitely loved. 

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, please pray for me.

Produce its Fruit

I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Mt.21:43

Jesus' warning to the Pharisees is also a warning to me. Do I want to inherit God's kingdom? Then produce its fruit.

Faith, hope and love. The imperishable fruit of God's kingdom. How can I produce such fruit? Jesus suggests that "good soil" people possess noble and generous hearts that listen to God's word and act on it (Lk.815). 

Jesus, help my day be one of active faith, hope and love. May your kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven in my little corner of the world. 

Give Him the Lot

And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.
Lk.16:20,21

Suffering at the rich man's very gate wasn't enough to penetrate his indifference. 

This parable always leaves me feeling uncomfortable. It immediately calls forth an image of the last beggar I passed by.

I remember a time when my wife and I were staying on the shore of Lake Como, Italy. Going to Mass we literally had to step over a beggar to get inside the church. I had already decided to place 20 Euros on the collection plate but, being a midweek Mass, no collection was made. I told Kate I'd give 5 Euros to the beggar on the way out, feeling very generous. Her response was typical of her. "Give him the lot you scrooge." 

If I want to meet Jesus outside the sacraments, I'm pretty certain to find him in the poor. 

Jesus, heal me of my indifference. Break my heart with the things that breaks yours.

Fight to Serve

Anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.
Mt.20:26-28

Jesus defines what his kingdom is to look like. Not one where people fight for power and control but one where people fight to be the least and to serve.

I'm reminded of a family joke I would play with my children. On approaching a door I would stop and say "After you." My chiid would reply, "No, after you." I would return, "No, I insist. After you." She would reply "No, no, no. Please, after you!" and so on... Meanwhile the rest of the family are backed up behind us and shouting, "Get out of the way!"

This upside down pyramid of power with the pinnacle at the bottom is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. If I'm not living by this rule I'm no longer salt and light, I'm simply in the world and of the world. 

Jesus, help me be less so that you may be more. 

Sacrafice of Thanksgiving

A sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me.
Ps.49:23

God is honored more by what comes from my heart than from my hands. Gratitude is a good start.

There's humility in gratitude. I'm made aware of blessings that I don't deserve. I'm thinking of another's good works before my own. Gratitude is sacrificial by nature. I put aside me to honour another.

Lord, I offer you today my sacrifice of thanksgiving. All I have comes from you.

Charitable True or Necessary

Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves.
Lk.6:37

Jesus' warning is stark and concise. Judgement results in judgement.

My judgement of others says more about me than those I judge. And what it says ain't pretty. I'm insecure in my own identity as a loved son. 

When I see myself rightly as the beloved I see others rightly, brothers and sisters in need of loving as much as I do. 

Are my thoughts charitable, true or even necessary? Good questions to ask before I ever speak.

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.