Homily - 24th Sunday in OT -
Year A, 2005
Buzzword - Forgiveness: How seriously do I take the need to be
reconciled? Do I allow grudges to drag on? Do I see a need to forgive and be
forgiven? Today's readings give definite answers to these situations as they
affect those who accept the leadership of Christ.
Ecclesiasticus 27:30, 28:7 - Here we see the groundwork being laid for
Christ's specific instruction to forgive if we expect to be forgiven.
Romans 14: 7-9: - As is so often the case with St. Paul, he uses theology
to develop a philosophical argument to state that individual attitudes affect
the lives of those around us.
Matthew 18:21-35: - Here Matthew takes a parable employed by Christ and
uses it to provide guide-lines for communal living in the early Christian
communities. He draws their attention to the need to forgive each other
repeatedly.
Point 1: There are few, I imagine, who are not revolted by, or at least
dismayed by, the daily accounts of terrorism and lawlessness which afflict our
world today. I suppose it could be argued that much of what is happening can be
traced back to the "blood feud" mentality that characterised the life styles of
so many people - the feuding mountain people of the US immortalised in the
"Martin and the Coys"; the Sicilian vendetta together with similar thinking to
be found in the Balkan countries; the "eye for an eye" of the ancient Jewish
code so epitomised in the continuing struggle of Jew with Arab; Greeks and Turks
have been warring over Cyprus for a thousand years; Catholic and Protestants
have been at each other's throats for half as long; Christian and Moslem... and
so the list goes on making one think that where the vicious tribal divisions of
primitive people have appeared to disappear, they are only coated by a a very
thin veneer of civilised thinking. Well, we may appear to be powerless to impact
on the world scene, but we can do something at the local level. At
the local, personal level, we find little difference; the same warring spirit is
always near at hand.
Point 2: How hard it is for the average person to apologise, or to
accept an apology! So many are unwilling to acknowledge fault and so do not
recognise the need to apologise or to accept an apology. And yet, at the very
core of Christ's teaching is this need to respect and to forgive. "Feuding",
even in its more limited and localised form of 'no-speaks' is out of character
for the Christian. No one denies that to ask for forgiveness and to forgive are
both difficult. Either action appears to be a "surrender". No doubt Christ had
that in mind when he taught us to pray -"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us" and set the example from the cross "Forgive them,
Father, for they know not what they do".
Conclusion: On the practical side - how long is it since I was involved
in a disagreement? And to what extent did I contribute to it starting or
continuing? Did I assign all the blame to the other person and, consequently,
sit back and wait for an apology. There is an old saying that "it takes two to
tango"; equally it takes two to make a quarrel, either to start it or to keep it
going. May this short reflection help me to see whether I take seriously this
need to be reconciled with others? to know whether I allow family grudges to
drag on? To know whether I am a "stirrer" leaving a trail of dissension and
bitterness where I have passed by? On the other hand, do I have the courage, the
maturity and strength of personality to say -"I don't care how it started; I am
sorry for my part in it and now let us stop it"!
Scriptural reference: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you; but, if you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15)
Compiled by Fr. Noel J. Tobin