Readings: 1 Cor 15:1-11; Psalm 118; Luke 7:36-50 “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Again, today’s readings – as the scriptures all this week have done – bring out my weaknesses, the most vulnerable parts of myself. It is that part of me that admits that I am weak yet strong and full of pride. I have to admit that I can do good and evil but that I often hide my evil with justifications, policies, and laws. And sometimes I see that I try to offset my sinfulness with good deeds, with good service. I continue to hope that I will amend my ways.
All that is true but there is another message in today’s reading. It is that I must honestly bring my weakness and sins to God, knowing that God forgives me and loves me as I am. I know He will slowly transform me into His image if only I cooperate with the graces that He gives me.
Jesus says there is freedom in forgiveness so in acknowledging my sinfulness I find courage to live my life courage. God delights in my presence on this earth. I am a child of God. I know that you and I are called to be companions of Jesus. We are here for a specific purpose. We are here to love and serve our families, our friends, our neighbours, and our communities. Jesus’ message is to love, to forgive and to provide for each other. It’s simple, its basic and it’s the truth.
In this current time of COVID-19, of so much suffering, of selfishness and sin, let us ask our God for forgiveness that we may love one another and offer our hands and our hearts in taking evil and converting it to a good. Forgiveness can change a life, my life. Forgiveness will make a transformational change in a person’s life. Let's take this opportunity to forgive someone close to us. Let’s recognize that if each of us today forgives one person, the world can be transformed. Now, how easy is that?