Readings:
Ex. 32:7-11, 13-14; 1 Tim. 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32.
May
We Forgive as We are Forgiven!
Today’s
readings can be summarized as lost and found, strayed and returned, sinned and forgiven,
and estranged and reconciled. They addressed the idea of separation from God
and ultimate reunion with Him. There can never be a healthy relationship, in
our family, in our church, or in society, without an intentional aspiration for
forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. Whenever we sin and hurt our brothers and
sisters, we are away from our senses. It is by coming to our senses that we find ourselves, others, and God.
In
today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses a mixed crowd: the tax collectors and sinners
and the grumbling Pharisees and scribes, who disapprove of His association
“with the wrong kind of people.” In the first reading, Moses intercedes on
behalf of the people for their sin of apostasy. They had turned away from the
living God and worshipped the Golden Calf. “But Moses implored the Lord,
his God, saying, ‘Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own
people, whom you brought out of the Land of Egypt with such great power and
with so strong a hand?’ So the Lord relented in the punishment he had
threatened to inflict on his people.” (Ex. 32:13,14). Nehemiah the prophet
acknowledged God’s mercy, saying: “Yet in your great mercy you did not
completely destroy them, and you did not forsake them, for you are a kind and
merciful God.” (10:31). God revealed himself to Moses as “As a merciful
and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing
his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and
sin.” (Ex. 34:6-7). God forgives us always, not counting our sins. “Though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is. 1:18).
In the second reading, Paul expresses gratitude
to Christ for the favors bestowed upon him, stating, “I
was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been
mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the
grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in
Christ Jesus.” (1Tim. 1:13-14). Although Paul’s sin was grave, God's mercy saved him and offered him the opportunity to become an apostle to the Gentiles, an ambassador of
reconciliation. “All
this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us
the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, as if God
were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to
God.” (2 Cor. 5:18-20). For “Where sin increased, grace
overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might
reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Rom. 5:20-21).
The
Gospel presents us with the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the
lost son. In the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, there is no hint
of sin or deliberate separation except that the sheep strayed, the coin was
lost, and both were recovered. Their
recovery brought joy and happiness. However, the parable of the lost son tells
one of the greatest stories ever told. It encompasses themes of hatred and
animosity, depicting an indulgent father who fulfills the demands of an
ungrateful son with a false sense of entitlement. It is a story of searching
and finding, love and compassion, forgiveness and cold-heartedness, mercy and reconciliation.
This is the story of grace!
Shakespeare,
in The Merchant of Venice, captured the essence of mercy thus: “The quality
of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, upon the
place beneath. It is twice blessed: It blesseth him that gives and him that
takes.” In this story, a father forgave and loved his son because he chose
to. There is joy in heaven when a
sinner returns to God, as captured by Margaret Moody in the song “When a Sinner
Comes As A Sinner May” ‘When a Sinner Comes As A Sinner May’ “There
is joy among the angels, and their harps with music ring, when a sinner comes
repenting, bending low before the King.”
The merciful father forgave and welcomed his
son back completely, putting shoes on his feet (indicating he was not a slave
but free) and giving him a ring (restoring him to full status and granting him
authority to act in the name of the family). While the father forgave his son,
the elder brother did not. It was the father who made an effort to reconcile
the two brothers again. He pleaded with the elder brother, but would he listen?
Forgiveness is a choice against anger, hurt, pride, bitterness, suspicion,
self-righteousness, grudges, and an irrational need for revenge. It is a choice
for liberation and freedom. The elder brother could not forgive his brother and
resented their father’s forgiveness. Was he envious? Did he underestimate his
father’s love? Did he not realize that their father’s love could not be earned,
but was instead a pure act of grace?
Will he ever forgive his
brother and join in the celebration? We will never know. However, our attitude
towards our enemies and our unwillingness to forgive them is indicative of the
brother’s mindset, as well as our own.
These were the scribes and the Pharisees who were upset with Christ for
associating with the tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. There was no
love lost between them and Christ!
This
story teaches us that there is no such thing as a perfect family. There must be
understanding and forgiveness in our families. Some members must be willing to sacrifice for the peace and
harmony of others. The responsibility of keeping the family united often lies
with the parents, who may sometimes be at the root of family problems.
Overindulging children and showing favoritism can lead them to believe they can
do whatever they want without consequences. This mindset has caused issues in
many households. Parents should remember the saying, “Spare the rod and spoil
the child.”
Let us pray to the God of forgiveness and
mercy, asking Him to help us be merciful to one another. If we have hurt
someone, let us seek forgiveness and be willing to accept it when it’s offered.
If we have sinned against God, we should approach His throne of mercy and
receive the grace of forgiveness from a God who, like the merciful father,
awaits our return in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He will never withhold
his forgiveness and love from us. And so, “If today you listen to his
voice, harden not your heart.” Amen.
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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