Who do we fear? When we fear, we close our hearts.
Who do we forgive? When we forgive, we love. When we love, we open our hearts.
When we will not forgive, we cling to the past. Through refusing to forgive, we will not let go of the hurt we feel.
When we forgive, we leave the past behind us. When we forgive, we let go of the pain which has been enslaving us, binding us to the past.
When stubbornly we will not forgive, we insist on remaining wounded. Similarly, when we choose to live in fear, we stay paralyzed and cannot move forward.
When we forgive, we heal. When we forgive, we open our hearts to a new future with our neighbor.
When we will not forgive, and when we fear, we refuse to give. In failing to forgive, and in fearing, we close ourselves off from our neighbor, and thus refuse to love our neighbor.
When we forgive, we give. In forgiving, we give the gift of love to our neighbor. When we forgive our neighbor, we give the gift of reconciliation, and the hope of a new future together, to our neighbor.
When we fear, and when we will not forgive, we refuse to receive. By fearing, we wall ourselves off from what our neighbor has to give us.
When we forgive, we receive. Through forgiving, we receive the gift of the hope of a restored relationship with our neighbor. Even if our neighbor refuses to be reconciled with us, still we have received the gift of our own freedom, insofar as we have been liberated from the chains of selfishness which had been restraining us from loving our neighbor.
To whom do we give? From whom do we receive?
This week here at the Catholic Worker House we received a call from a generous, thoughtful person. She called us to tell us we could come to her place of employment and pick up free items. A couple Catholic Workers went to where she works, and there she gave them free furniture.
To paint a little more of a picture of this magnanimous person, in her home, this individual has a collection of crosses hanging on a wall. At some point in the past, this person was convicted of committing a felony.
If we get stuck on a label someone has been given, on how someone has been categorized by society, we can end up hostage to our fears. Or we can approach someone with open minds and open hearts. If we are open to what someone has to give us, then we can be open to receive from that person. If we forgive someone, we love that person, and we allow that person to love us in return.
If we open our hearts to others, we welcome them. If our hearts are open to others, we accept the hospitality they extend to us.
Therefore Jesus instructed us, "Be merciful, just as your Heavenly Father is merciful."******* We are to forgive our neighbor, just as God forgives us. We must forgive our neighbor if we want to be forgiven.
Since we must always forgive our neighbor, we must always forgive as God always forgives us. Thus God calls us to strive to be like Him. And so Jesus has directed us, "Be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect."********
God calls us to love our neighbor. If we love, we forgive. If we forgive our neighbor, we give love to our neighbor. If we forgive, we receive the love we give. When we forgive, we free ourselves and our neighbor from the shackles of selfishness. When we forgive our neighbor, we are freed to choose the bonds of love which Jesus offers to establish with us.
Jesus, always with us,********* patiently waits for us to turn inward and welcome Him into our hearts. Jesus asks us to let Him love others through us. Jesus wants us to become like Him. He came to help us become like Him. Saint Athanasius said, "the Son of God became man so that we might become God." God asks whether we will consent to become more and more and more like Him.
* Hebrews 13:2
** Genesis 18:2-15
*** Genesis 19:1-3
**** John 13:34
***** Matthew 9:10-11; Mark 2:16-17; Luke 5:30-31
****** Matthew 21:28-31
******* Luke 6:36
******** Matthew 5:48
********* Matthew 28:20
Who do we forgive? When we forgive, we love. When we love, we open our hearts.
When we will not forgive, we cling to the past. Through refusing to forgive, we will not let go of the hurt we feel.
When we forgive, we leave the past behind us. When we forgive, we let go of the pain which has been enslaving us, binding us to the past.
When stubbornly we will not forgive, we insist on remaining wounded. Similarly, when we choose to live in fear, we stay paralyzed and cannot move forward.
When we forgive, we heal. When we forgive, we open our hearts to a new future with our neighbor.
When we will not forgive, and when we fear, we refuse to give. In failing to forgive, and in fearing, we close ourselves off from our neighbor, and thus refuse to love our neighbor.
When we forgive, we give. In forgiving, we give the gift of love to our neighbor. When we forgive our neighbor, we give the gift of reconciliation, and the hope of a new future together, to our neighbor.
When we fear, and when we will not forgive, we refuse to receive. By fearing, we wall ourselves off from what our neighbor has to give us.
When we forgive, we receive. Through forgiving, we receive the gift of the hope of a restored relationship with our neighbor. Even if our neighbor refuses to be reconciled with us, still we have received the gift of our own freedom, insofar as we have been liberated from the chains of selfishness which had been restraining us from loving our neighbor.
To whom do we give? From whom do we receive?
This week here at the Catholic Worker House we received a call from a generous, thoughtful person. She called us to tell us we could come to her place of employment and pick up free items. A couple Catholic Workers went to where she works, and there she gave them free furniture.
To paint a little more of a picture of this magnanimous person, in her home, this individual has a collection of crosses hanging on a wall. At some point in the past, this person was convicted of committing a felony.
If we get stuck on a label someone has been given, on how someone has been categorized by society, we can end up hostage to our fears. Or we can approach someone with open minds and open hearts. If we are open to what someone has to give us, then we can be open to receive from that person. If we forgive someone, we love that person, and we allow that person to love us in return.
If we open our hearts to others, we welcome them. If our hearts are open to others, we accept the hospitality they extend to us.
Who do we welcome? From whom do we accept hospitality?
We are told, "Remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.* By extending hospitality to strangers, Abraham received the news from his guests, who were actually angels, that his wife Sarah would bear a son.** By offering hospitality to strangers, Lot was delivered from death when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.***
If we are busy fearing the stranger, we cannot listen to what they have to say to us. If we are closing our hearts to someone, we cannot at the same time open our hearts to receive what they have to give us. By fearing our neighbors, we deprive them of the gift of loving us. When we fear, we do not let others love us.
One of the Catholic Workers who went to pick up the free furniture was helped by another person who has repeatedly extended hospitality to others in her home. On countless occasions, she has given them food and drink. She has invited people to stay at her home, offering them shelter when they had no place else to stay. She has showed abundant generosity in the unrestrained love she has for her neighbor. Yet years ago she too was convicted of committing a felony.
If we get hung up on how someone has been stigmatized by our society, we can become blinded to seeing the goodness in that person. If we open our hearts to someone, regardless of what he or she may have done in the past, we can welcome what he or she has to give us. If we welcome someone, then we can receive the help we need from the person who is present to assist us in our time of need.
We are called to see the love being offered to us. We are called to love each other as Jesus has loved us.**** We are called to welcome each other into our hearts, regardless of the unfortunate decisions we may have made in the past. Others might not understand how we forgive, and might question our judgement.
We are told, "Remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.* By extending hospitality to strangers, Abraham received the news from his guests, who were actually angels, that his wife Sarah would bear a son.** By offering hospitality to strangers, Lot was delivered from death when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.***
If we are busy fearing the stranger, we cannot listen to what they have to say to us. If we are closing our hearts to someone, we cannot at the same time open our hearts to receive what they have to give us. By fearing our neighbors, we deprive them of the gift of loving us. When we fear, we do not let others love us.
One of the Catholic Workers who went to pick up the free furniture was helped by another person who has repeatedly extended hospitality to others in her home. On countless occasions, she has given them food and drink. She has invited people to stay at her home, offering them shelter when they had no place else to stay. She has showed abundant generosity in the unrestrained love she has for her neighbor. Yet years ago she too was convicted of committing a felony.
If we get hung up on how someone has been stigmatized by our society, we can become blinded to seeing the goodness in that person. If we open our hearts to someone, regardless of what he or she may have done in the past, we can welcome what he or she has to give us. If we welcome someone, then we can receive the help we need from the person who is present to assist us in our time of need.
We are called to see the love being offered to us. We are called to love each other as Jesus has loved us.**** We are called to welcome each other into our hearts, regardless of the unfortunate decisions we may have made in the past. Others might not understand how we forgive, and might question our judgement.
When the Pharisees saw Jesus and his disciples eating with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples why Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus replied that those who were well had no need of a physician, but only those who were sick.***** Jesus welcomed those who would listen. Jesus welcomed those whose hearts were open to Him.
And so Jesus told a parable to those whose hearts were not open enough. He said
"What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He replied, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you."******
There are people among us who have been committed crimes, but who have repented, and who now love their neighbor. We who are not convicted criminals may think well of ourselves. Yet if we merely say that we will do what God asks, but do not actually do it, we are not doing the will of God. Despite appearances to the contrary, we might very well be entering the Kingdom of God after those who have been convicted of crimes. We might be entering the Kingdom of God after those who our society calls outcasts, rejects and failures.
And so Jesus told a parable to those whose hearts were not open enough. He said
"What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He replied, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you."******
There are people among us who have been committed crimes, but who have repented, and who now love their neighbor. We who are not convicted criminals may think well of ourselves. Yet if we merely say that we will do what God asks, but do not actually do it, we are not doing the will of God. Despite appearances to the contrary, we might very well be entering the Kingdom of God after those who have been convicted of crimes. We might be entering the Kingdom of God after those who our society calls outcasts, rejects and failures.
We have our own ideas about who is bad and who is good. We decide why people are bad and why they are good. Yet we are all sinners. We are all in need of God's mercy.
Therefore Jesus instructed us, "Be merciful, just as your Heavenly Father is merciful."******* We are to forgive our neighbor, just as God forgives us. We must forgive our neighbor if we want to be forgiven.
Since we must always forgive our neighbor, we must always forgive as God always forgives us. Thus God calls us to strive to be like Him. And so Jesus has directed us, "Be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect."********
God calls us to love our neighbor. If we love, we forgive. If we forgive our neighbor, we give love to our neighbor. If we forgive, we receive the love we give. When we forgive, we free ourselves and our neighbor from the shackles of selfishness. When we forgive our neighbor, we are freed to choose the bonds of love which Jesus offers to establish with us.
Jesus, always with us,********* patiently waits for us to turn inward and welcome Him into our hearts. Jesus asks us to let Him love others through us. Jesus wants us to become like Him. He came to help us become like Him. Saint Athanasius said, "the Son of God became man so that we might become God." God asks whether we will consent to become more and more and more like Him.
* Hebrews 13:2
** Genesis 18:2-15
*** Genesis 19:1-3
**** John 13:34
***** Matthew 9:10-11; Mark 2:16-17; Luke 5:30-31
****** Matthew 21:28-31
******* Luke 6:36
******** Matthew 5:48
********* Matthew 28:20
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