Homily Third Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Mt. 18:21-35) “Turn the Other Cheek”
Homily Third Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Mt. 18:21-35) “Turn the Other Cheek”
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” We say that line of the Our Father time after time. If we are unforgiving than we can’t expect to be forgiven. This is a sobering thought. How hard it is to forgive some of the hurtful things people do.
Years ago, I worked in several summer camps with children. I would care for a group of boys for a week. They might be anywhere from age eight to teenagers. It was a more innocent time. Today, I would not dream of living 24 hours a day with a group of children for a week, but that was the way it was forty years ago.
I would not trade the experience for anything. I learned a lot about human nature, and it was a great preparation for ministry. The boys would often take on the personality of their counselor by the end of the week. In most cases that was a good thing. We were reminded what it meant to be a role model.
One lesson that I often had to deal with was the whole idea of forgiveness. Often tempers would flare playing a game or when it came time to sharing equipment or food. On several occasions a punch was thrown. Several of the boys shared that their fathers told them that when they received a blow, they should not take it, but they need to return the punch because you should not let others push you around. This was part of being a man.
I would try to point out what Jesus taught about forgiveness without being critical of what their fathers may have said. I heard a talk by a priest later in my life that emphasized that the teachings of Jesus do not mesh well with the popular concept of what it means to be a man.
A man’s understanding of what it means to be strong must change if that man is to follow Jesus. Jesus absorbed insults and blows and did not return them in kind. He taught the way of reconciliation. This way requires infinite patience and courage and the ability to accept pain unflinchingly. The men who practice it are strong in the truest sense and they model what a masculine spirituality is.
Reflection Questions:
- What was I taught about forgiveness growing up? Does it mesh with what Jesus taught?
- Some leaders today say that when we are attacked, we must respond with an aggressive defense. Does this bring lasting peace?
Dear Parishioners,
Questions about vaccines seems to keep coming up. The Vatican and the National Council of Catholic Bishops have spoken clearly. It is morally acceptable to take any of the three vaccines that are on the market right now.
Some would be hesitant to receive shots because either in the research or in the testing fetal stems cells might have been used. Moral Theologians have said that when the only vaccine for a dangerous disease has some questions regarding its development it is ethically acceptable to take the vaccine. The greater moral evil would be to spread a dangerous disease.
We need to stop COVID 19 from doing any more harm. The church would recommend receiving the inoculations.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over us today.
Fr. Mark