Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time_A - Forgiveness_091320

Deacon Tom Writes,

"Forgiveness"

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

There is no shortage of reports of the civil unrest, street violence, interpersonal conflicts and domestic abuse that individuals and communities experience on a daily basis. So many of our brothers and sisters endure unimaginable suffering which, too often, is intentionally inflicted on them for hateful reasons. We are no strangers to this behavior; it has gone on for years. Violence, conflict, suffering is the stuff that fuels Hollywood’s piggy bank. In reality there is no need for Hollywood to produce these images, real people in the real world are living them and often the misery of others is right outside our door, on our street, on neighbor’s house or, perhaps, even our own. We seem to be living during a time of endless conflict, division, discord, hostility. How are people able to forgive those who have brought such pain and suffering into their lives? How can anyone put their life back together after such traumatic suffering without resorting to the ancient custom of revenge and retaliation toward those who have caused their suffering?  

The people of South Africa and Ireland seemed to have met with some success in providing alternatives for ending systemic violence.  In the case of South Africa ending apartheid, the legalized segregation of the population into black and white, was crucial in stopping the brutality.  In the case of Ireland, years of economic domination gave way in the late 1980’s to a period of economic growth and stability that has been a significant factor helping build a bridge to a new era of peace and cooperation between former adversaries. 

In these two examples, where ancient rivalries have yielded to a day of peace, there is another dynamic at work that draws its inspiration from the Triumph of the Cross. The spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation that emanates from Christ’s salvific action has taken root. If you look at Christ as the victim who represents all the victims who have ever suffered throughout time, before him and after him, then we can see in his death that there is no need for further victims.  The message of the cross is this:  NO MORE VICTIMS. 

This message has been slow to take root for certain, but as fragile as that root may be, it is showing signs of life.  For we could not experience the reconciliations that have happened in Ireland or in South Africa and in other places where former adversaries now live side by side, unless we understand that our spiritual destiny is tied up with that of our torturers, “unless each of your forgives your brother from your heart”. We are called to love others as God loves us.  This is the only way we will have a future.  If we are not able to get beyond the violence, the violence will consume us.  For Christians, violence stops at the cross. 

This is the real Triumph of the Cross: that we are learning how to forgive others as Jesus did. May God give us the courage, strength and wisdom to forgive those who have hurt and those, in turn, we have hurt.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom