Tuesday, August 2, 2011
WE MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE - By: Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
One of the most difficult lessons to learn in life is forgiveness. The only way we can learn it is by practicing it. The theory is quite simple. If we want to live with integrity and holiness, how can we expect God to forgive us our sins if we are not willing to forgive those who sin against us? Forgiveness is fundamental to the life of a Christian as it is only through the forgiveness of his sins in baptism that one can enter into the Christian life.
Forgiveness is the entry point, or better yet, the means to enter into the Christian life. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we celebrate the forgiveness of a person’s sin and the beginning of his life under the will of God. We are called to forgive the sins of those who hurt us because we have known and experienced God’s forgiveness of our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Why is the forgiveness of sins so important?
When a person sins against another, the one who is sinned against has a fundamental choice to make: Will I let go of this sin by forgiving the person or will I hang on to it and seek revenge or hold resentment against him? The second is clearly not a healthy option as our resentment and anger will ultimately eat us up from within. If we choose badly we actually put ourselves in the filth of sin even more. And what is worse, we are totally culpable for this. We have chosen to wallow in the sin of self-indulgence by not forgiving the person who has sinned against us.
Thus the choice to forgive is the choice of freedom. The choice to forgive not only sets the sinner free to embrace the call to repentance and conversion without resentment and fear of revenge plaguing one’s mind; it also affirms our own freedom to act as Christ has acted towards us. This is a sign that true conversion has really taken root in our lives and that we are serious in following Christ.
Reflection Question:
Do I hold resentment and unforgiveness against anyone? Is it helping me to live a better life?
Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gift of forgiveness and I pray that I will always exercise my freedom to forgive those who sin against me.
St. Thomas of Dover, pray for us.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Gospel Reading Today, August 1
G O S P E L
In this story where Jesus feeds the five thousand, we see a foretaste of the greater feeding that Jesus will do, not just through the loaves and fish but by His body and blood. The food Jesus fed the crowds nourished their physical bodies while in the Holy Eucharist Jesus nourishes our spirits and gives us food for eternal life.
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the
mouth of God.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 14:13-21
13 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. 14 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” 17 But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” 18 Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” 19 and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over — twelve wicker baskets full. 21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
Reflections
T h i n k : God will not reject us when we come to Him and truly express what is in our
hearts.
TRUSTS IN THE LORD
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the
Lord his hope and confidence. - Jeremiah 17:7
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)