I think it is top of the list in the Lord's prayer because love and mercy is who He Is, and He wants us to be like this also. If we forgive purely to get into Heaven, we have failed.
Unforgiveness to me is like being bound with a rope made of many strands, one unravels one strand at a time, ie deciding to forgive and pray for the offender, becoming aware of the damage the hurt has caused and still deciding to forgive, being delivered from anger and hurt through confessions, allowing God to heal our wounds and finally being freed. (mt 5:26 NJB) We know we have truely forgiven when we can remember the event without feeling the pain. Forgiveness is a decision on our part and a grace on God's part.
Gospel Reading - Luke 11, 14-23 He was driving out a devil and it was dumb; and it happened that when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, 'It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he drives devils out.'' Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, 'Any kingdom which is divided against itself is heading for ruin, and house collapses against house. So, too, with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? - since you claim that it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out, through whom do your own sons drive them out? They shall be your judges, then. But if it is through the finger of God that I drive devils out, then the kingdom of God has indeed caught you unawares. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own home, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than himself attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil. 'Anyone who is not with me is against me; and anyone who does not gather in with me throws away.
Fathers homily this morning after this reading I thought hit the nail on the head. He spoke of how we have divided our Kingdom by listening to all sorts of apparitions and many of them simply are not true. He continued by talking of a lady he knows who owned a book shop. This shop had 3 volumes of a certain persons writings of end times. (sorry I can't remember who's writings) Anyway, a customer saw these books and said she wants to buy them. This customer said these writings are brilliant, they tell us all about the end times. She then continued to say... "These books are even better than the Bible." The shop owner was so distressed by these statements, she removed all books that were 'not approved'. Sadly, the shop owner, lost alot of money and could not stay open. Father then said.. "I know many people who can tell you word for word what Mary said here, and what Mary said there, but these people can't remember word for word what Jesus said in the Gospel." I was so impressed, it led me to go and speak to Father after mass, just to thank him for a wonderful homily. As our priests are so busy, I thought it would only take 30 seconds to do this, but we stood and spoke for 45 minutes. He said to me "you know, many people rather know about fearful things? Yet Jesus is merciful, otherwise why would he have hung on a cross for me?" Where I thought I stood alone, I realise I don't.
Don't ever think that you are alone Jane. Sometimes I think that I am swimming up the stream like salmon, or a voice crying in the wilderness. There are others there with us, we just don't see them. And even if they were not there, one is never alone when they have Christ. I do listen to prophecies that I am comfortable with. However, I absolutely love my bible above all else as it should be. Mother Mary echoes the bible, it shows how much she loves it too.
Thanks for those comforting words. When I seem to see things differently to others, it makes you feel alone. It also humbles me, in the fact I am forever questioning my own vision. So I try and stay close to Christ, because He is the truth and the light.
I always try and remember how Jesus spoke differently to how others thought. I is through Him I get my courage. But I can tell you, it is not easy.
Well said, Daniel. Jesus cautioned us to not throw our pearls before swine. In other words, I must be aware of my weaknesses and not deliberately put myself in the presence of those who may harm me spiritually. That is why God has provided us with the cardinal virtue of prudence. Use caution. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Padraig, It's worth noting that right after teaching His apostles the Our Father, Jesus reemphasized: Matthew 6: 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Rarely does Our Lord repeat Himself. Safe in the Flames of the Sacred Heart!
Fridays Gospel Mark 12: 28-34 Mark 12:28-34 28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’29Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”31The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’32Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”;33and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.'
The first thought that entered my head was Jesus saying "Listen" then to love Him above all others. We listen to many people, so much so we tend to put them quite high. But He is a jealous God, and He wants us to keep Him as the greatest and listen to Him first. Even the Blessed Virgin Mary comes to us only to bring us to Her Son, she would never want to stand above Her Son. I have an interesting story about my relationship with Mary and Jesus, hopefully one day I will feel comfortable to share with everyone. Then to love our neighbour as ourselves. We all know this can be hard at times, but it is achievable. But for myself, I have to keep working on this. I pray for this constantly and Jesus is helping me.
Beautifully stated, Border Collie! You know if when we get up each day and forgive those who have hurt us and choose to love them, God always gives us the grace to do it. Isn't this a wonderful group of bible thumping, psalm singing, scripture quoting people that you would ever want to meet? What a wonderful group of Mary's children Padraig has gathered under her mantle for Jesus.
LUKE 18: 9-14 (Saturdays Gospel) The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. 9He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.c10“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.11The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector.12I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’d13But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’e14I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”f
We can be so righteous can't we? Well at least I know I can be. We can criticise many people and even tell them they are wrong, because we are so righteous. Jesus knows us so well. There is no point pretending with Him. Jesus is happy when we recognise we are sinners, and wants us to call out to Him for mercy. Maybe that's why we feel so good when we walk out of confession. He desires Mercy, not sacrifice. This is a reminder for me to be merciful to others. Almighty Father, Thankyou for sending us Your Son, Help me to open my ears to Him, As it is through only Him I can have salvation. Amen. "Jesus, I trust in You."
I think its easy to to think we have forgiven and really it is not total forgiveness. There was a young guy upstairs at work who used to be nasty and curt on the phone with me. To rub salt in the wound I knew he was very lazy. Anyway I never answered him back and was sure I held no grudges. But as things worked out the big boss lost her temper with him for not working and sent him to another department were he has to wrok hard and constantly. Now when someone metinied his new posting to me I felt a surge of joy in my heart that he had, 'Got his'. This is far from total forgiveness. One of the nicest things I heard about Chirst's forgiveness was from a Catholic saint (I forget her name) She says one tme she mentioned to Chirst that she was sorry for one of her sins. Chirst told her He could notremember it. She insisted , but Jesus pointed out the sins we tell in confession are not only forgiven but forgotten ..they are blotted out and no longer exist. Even the best of us can not do this, we can forgive but which of us ever forgets?.
Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
