Today’s readings are very simple, even blunt
Today’s readings (24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A) are very simple, even blunt.
There are two, and only two, options.
- Repent and forgive — and be forgiven.
- Do not forgive — and suffer God’s wrath.
- There is no option 3.
In recent times, we often see God as a kindly old grandfather who is forgetful and a bit naive, and would never raise his hand or even his voice.
That is a false image of God.
God is good, and merciful, and loving, and God is just.
God’s love is unconditional. God is love. But forgiveness is not unconditional. Justice demands that forgiveness is conditional.
Forgiveness requires something of us, and something of God. God has done his part to offer us forgiveness out of love, but we cannot be forgiven until and unless we accept that forgiveness by meeting the necessary conditions.
Thankfully, this is not a long and complicated contract. God’s forgiveness has two conditions. First, we must be contrite. Second, we must forgive others.
Contrition is recognizing that we have sinned, and desiring to turn from evil and do good. That turning is repentance.
We, the living, have the blessing of repentance. No matter how far we might go, or how hardened we might become, there is hope for us up to the last instant of life. We are never so far away that God does not come running to meet us if we turn back.
Sin leaves wounds in our relationship to God. A repentant heart does everything possible to heal those wounds. We do this through the penance assigned us by the church through the priest in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. Our penance is, of course, insufficient, but our God is merciful, and unites our small sufferings with the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
So, to be forgiven, we must recognize we have sinned, desire to change, actually change, and do our best to make amends.
The first condition for our forgiveness is that we must be contrite, which leads to repentance and doing penance.
The second condition of our receiving forgiveness is that we must forgive others. Our Lord is very clear on this. If we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. And this forgiveness is not simply on the lips, but in our heart.
If someone offends or sins against us in a small matter, or if it is serious, but they sin against us out of ignorance or are not in their right mind, then we can forgive without additional conditions. From the cross, Jesus could see the hearts of the men crucifying him, and asked that the sin not be held against them, because they did not know what they were doing.
If someone knowingly and seriously sins against us, our duty and obligation is to pray that God will change their heart. It is prudent that we also pray for our own hearts to be soft, so that we are prepared to offer forgiveness, and to seek forgiveness if we bear some guilt.
Luke’s account of today’s gospel is more detailed. In it, Jesus is clear that if our brother sins and repents, we must forgive them. We are not obligated to offer forgiveness to someone who is unrepentant, such as in the case of an abuser who is not contrite, repentant, and doing penance. True forgiveness for serious sin is impossible without contrition, and God does not ask us to do the impossible. God does however, ask us to set aside vengeance, even for the unrepentant.
So, to be forgiven, we must be contrite, and we must forgive those who have sinned against us.
May God grant us the grace to do both.
