27/09/2009 - 26th. Sunday in Ordinary
Season - B
Ist Reading Num 11, 25-29 Psalm 18 IInd Reading Js 5,1-6 Gospel Mk 9,38-43.45.47-48
"As we forgive those who sin against us". Even the subject in this
part of the prayer is "we/us". We have already said that is 'we/us'
is referred to the Church. This should console us. It is not easy to forgive:
at times it seems that the hurt we receive is bigger than us that we find ourselves
unable to forgive. Think for example, if one reveals our secrets, or some one
whom we trusted, steal from us, or an unfaithful husband whose wife trusted
him blindly, or one who kills either his child or mother. How difficult it would
be to forgive! If one does not have the attitude to do so, it would seem to
us not possible. How can we say: "as we forgive…"? Yes, we as a Church,
we forgive them. The Church forgives the sins of all those who humbly ask God
for forgiveness. And the Church knows that in doing so, she is obeying Jesus
who said that we are to forgive seventy seven times! Therefore, even when it
seems to be not possible to forgive, I can always say: "As we forgive those
who sin against us". Not I, but we/us! God does not take my measure of
forgiveness but that of the Church. He does so to me and through me, to others
and through others. As with regards to "how", it could mean "because":
because we forgive others…This is case, as if God is obliged to forgive us,
either wise we would be better than him! But in this case we would be more committed
to make out of our forgiveness towards all those who hurt us, more effective.
I have trained myself, when I find it hard to forgive, to say to the Lord: "Lord
Jesus, forgive to this one or that one yourself: meet him so that he can be
saved; give him your grace to know you, to love you, and to give himself to
you". It's my way to overcome the difficulty: the other receives more than
from my forgiveness! It is of great help to remember that even I am a sinner,
always prone to fall into sin. If I don't forgive, who shall forgive me? To
remember that I am a sinner is great wisdom: keeps me humble, and open to God
and to others, and puts one in the condition of being loved by God and others.
We can bring the themes of today's Readings to two.
John, the apostle, to please the Lord, had stopped one from exorcising demons
using the name of Jesus. He thought that this was to be only invoked by the
disciples, and no body else. Was it envy? Was is the sense of mutual belonging,
for which only the disciples belong to Jesus, as much as the Master belong to
the disciples? It's a repetition of what happened when Moses had chosen the
seventy two men who received the spirit of prophesy: for this they were out
of the camp to be in prayer in the tent that was used as a temple during the
forty years in the desert. Two men who were not with them received too the same
prophetic spirit: Joshua expressed his concern to Moses, who in return, inspired
by God, answered: "May they all the people of God be prophets, and may
the Lord pour out his Spirit on all!" Hence Jesus is not offended if someone,
outside the circle of his disciples, call upon his name and order in his name
the evil spirits not to make people suffer. He answered John: "There is
no one who performs a miracle in my name and then turns against me". If
someone starts to love Jesus, even though he does not know him, at the end becomes
his disciple. Who is not with "us", can become easily become one of
us by calling on the name of the Lord and begin to love him. And Jesus add on
a strong word, that every act of love, even small, done in his name, that is
done for his love, is rewarded by the Father.
The second teaching of today is about scandal. Scandal is the obstacle put to
faith in Jesus. Given the fact that Jesus is the Savior, and the only Savior
of humanity and the world, every act or word that might create a difficulty
to believe in him, is stopping that person to be saved. Who takes away someone
from believing in Jesus is responsible for his lost. That's why Jesus says that
paradox word, "it's better that a stone is tied by with his neck and thrown
into the sea". We are to promote faith in word and deed. But Jesus puts
us on guard even from making decisions that can hinder us ourselves from faith:
renounce to your arm, foot and your eye, instead of them stopping you from coming
closer to Jesus. Are there any works that make you disobey Jesus? Leave them
immediately. Your foot could be your travelling, your meetings: friendships
or places that you meet and that are against the Lord? Keep away without discussion.
The eye could be figures, images, shows, movies that bring low your faith in
your Master. Don't stop on them: switch off, change, stay away. Do you buy newspapers,
magazines that curse or despise the Church? Are you this little in your faith?
Your salvation, and that of those who see you and upon who you exercise a certain
influence, such as your children and grand children, does not interest you?
The strong words of st. James apply to those who use their wealth with injustice,
but also to those who put the faith at risk or under the one's feet.