17/09/2023

The first of our readings at today's mass warns about resentment and anger.They are both allied with pride and selfishness and require repentance and reciprocal forgiveness.

In the Second St Paul tells us that we are living in Christ. We are never to forget that our being after our Baptism is one with Christ, we have become Christians. We have to persevere and keep our will active to accept and return the Love that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are able to do this because we are never abandoned by Our Father, Jesus' Abba.

Most of the times when I have ever lost my temper have been within my own family. A switch gets clicked and I rant and rave. I even know that this is what I am doing and continue until I calm down. I feel ashamed about these episodes but do not bear resentment. That does not make up for the pain I cause to those I love the most.

St Paul also tells us that even the most insignificant of us has influence on others. This is because not one of us is insignificant to Our Father in Heaven. The Billionaire, the President, Emperor or King, the Bishop dying surrounded by the luxury that he has known all his lifetime has no more value in the Justice that is God's awareness of how he has lived his life than the victim of people traffickers drowning in the English Channel. The arrogance of  "do you know who I am?" carries no weight in the sight of God.

In times of anger I sometimes feel that I am justified. If the Perfect Man was justified in showing his anger when he cleared out Mammon from Temple, cannot I be also forgiven for my temper tantrum? 

Of course I do know the answer which is quite straightforward as it come from Jesus. Let the measure of the forgiveness you beg from the Father at the end of your life be the same as the forgiveness that you have meted out to those that have angered you during it. Jesus is completely straightforward in all his teaching but that does not make it any easier for us to obey.

Dear Lord, I hope that I am  ready to receive your Mercy. I must be very close to my last breath and know that I have always been full of  "good intentions" that have not been realised. May Mary and all the Saints keep all sinners on earth and in Purgatory in mind as they praise you for the Mercy which you can show to all sinners who are truly repentant and seek your forgiveness.