Tuesday, August 11, 2009

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 13.08.09

1st Reading: Josh 3:7-11
Gospel: Mt 18:21-19:1

Let us just imagine that Judas went to visit heaven, and there he meets Jesus.

And Jesus tells him, "Judas, I forgive you."

What do we think will be the reaction of Judas?

Whatever we might think of how Judas will react, we can be sure that it will be difficult for Judas to come to terms with what he has done.

He might say it was not his fault that he betrayed Jesus. He only wanted Jesus to act faster in restoring Israel's freedom as an independent nation.

Or that he might say that he didn't know of the drastic consequences of his actions. Or maybe a host of other reasons.

Here is where the problem is.

We can think of so many reasons not to forgive and maybe even more reasons not to accept forgiveness when we have done wrong.

But the fact is that forgiveness is not about reasons.

Forgiveness is about the matter of the heart.

Let us pray for the softening of our hearts, and the letting go of our reasons and defenses.

Then we can be healed through forgiveness and build bridges of hope and tear down walls of divisions.