Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Be patient with others, and with ourselves, is the message that comes through loud and clear in this Sunday’s readings.
How else can we share the Kingdom of God that is within us?
We do not need to worry about God. The Psalmist tells us that “The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.” What more could we want from a loving Father?
Emulating our Father in heaven impels us to do likewise. St. Paul talks about anger in his letter to the Corinthians. We know God is slow to anger; where are we? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your last outburst?
It is a bit embarrassing to admit that at times our anger races quickly to the higher end of the scale.
How about your encounter with another? Is that person’s anger on the lower end of the scale? Trying to understand that this person is showing us the mercy and compassion of Our Lord can be more helpful than many superfluous words.
He “heals all our ills.” We take so much for granted in life. We want that headache gone as soon as we pop two Tylenol. Yet we are slow to show mercy to someone who has hurt us in some way.
Perhaps this week, showing patience will encourage us to “heal the ills” in our relationships with one another. Whether it is a family member, a co-worker, a friend, or the person cutting us off on the road, try using the command of Jesus that St. Matthew gives us: “Forgive 77 times.” That goal will be a great accomplishment towards our salvation!
Sister Mary Joan Jacobs, CSFN
