Fr. John Ryan

 

ELEVENTH SUDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

17th June 2007

 

King David had done some things contrary to God's law - he had stooped to new lows with the murder of Uriah after having an adulterous relationship with Uriah's wife. In order to hide one sin he committed another. Through the prophet Nathan God awakens in David a realisation of what he has done and the enormity of his actions. To David's credit, on the recognition of what he has done he does not attempt to justify his actions but acknowledges his wrongdoing. And in the light of David's willingness to accept responsibility God forgives. Under the law both sins carried the ultimate penalty - death. But God forgives showing the limitless nature of his forgiveness. God forgives - it is part of who he is. The relationship between God and David outlined in scripture allows us to see that our God is intimately linked to us. God is not this distant entity out of touch with humanity. There is a personal bond - there is an intimacy with his people, an intimacy born out of God's love for us. His love is one that allows us freedom of decision and action but always he is there ready to forgive when our decisions and actions are wrong and sharing our happiness when the decisions and actions are right. He is a God who revels in our joys and mourns in our sorrows. The limitless forgiveness he offers to us is not separate from our own activities. In order to experience the fullness of God's forgiveness we need to acknowledge that we have done wrong - we must show contrition. When we respond, taking responsibility for our choices and actions, God responds in love.
We see the very same thing in today's Gospel. Jesus forgives - his host appears to have set boundaries. There is a lesson there for us too. When it comes to forgiving we are challenged by Christ to forgive irrespective of the crime. Can we do that? Do we place limits on the bounds of our forgiveness, withholding the healing process from those around us who in some way or other have hurt us? If we are approached by someone who seeks forgiveness do we hold the high moral ground and continue to condemn for what has been done without allowing a new beginning and a cleansing of the slate for the future? Inability to forgive is just as dangerous spiritually as choosing to hurt. It strangles the spirit, eating us up inside - when we fail to forgive there is a danger of the growth of bitterness and/or self-righteousness, two negative attitudes that feed on the loving nature within us eventually killing it. The shame of it is that we are all in need of forgiveness. No-one is perfect. We need to remind ourselves of what we say so often in the Our Father: 'and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us'. When we pray asking for forgiveness we have to remember that we are called to forgive. We shouldn't simply expect God to forgive without limit if we fail to forgive without limit. There is no rational balance in the attitudes.
We all need the grace of God in our lives. Without it we are locked in the merely human and find ourselves constrained by the narrow view. With God's grace we can find the strength to act like Christ and forgive even in the most difficult of circumstances - on the cross he says, Father forgive them, they know not what they do - the limitless forgiveness of God offered to those who put him to death. With God's grace we can recognize our own failings and take responsibility, placing ourselves into the merciful hands of God. With the grace of God we can show an unforgiving world that forgiveness can and does work.