These words are much like the homily last week about holding grudges over the pettiest things. It’s the call to forgive as we have been forgiven. It’s the call to remember that life is too short to hold on to nonsense. Someone said last week that some people actually like holding on to grudges. They seem to enjoy being mad at someone. Not forgiving gives them the sense that they have the upper hand. Our life in Christ should convince us to look at those relationships in our life that are unsettled. We may not be able to forgive at this moment but we should, at least, have the desire to want to forgive. We may have to pray for that person for a while before healing comes. To do nothing and to harbor all kinds of resentments is not an option. I truly believe that those we have not shown mercy to or those we haven’t given the satisfaction of our forgiveness will end up being our judges as we attempt to enter heaven. For some of us, including myself, that could be a pretty scary meeting. I thinking of all those I judged harshly. Maybe I didn’t feel they were important enough to take my time. Maybe I was stingy with my forgiveness and made them feel terribly guilty before I would forgive. I just pray that they will be more merciful to me then I was to them.
Our first reading from the Book of Sirach says: “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice, then when you pray your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like themselves and seek pardon for their own sins? Remember you last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor, remember the Most High’s covenant and overlook faults.”
These words are much like the homily last week about holding grudges over the pettiest things. It’s the call to forgive as we have been forgiven. It’s the call to remember that life is too short to hold on to nonsense. Someone said last week that some people actually like holding on to grudges. They seem to enjoy being mad at someone. Not forgiving gives them the sense that they have the upper hand. Our life in Christ should convince us to look at those relationships in our life that are unsettled. We may not be able to forgive at this moment but we should, at least, have the desire to want to forgive. We may have to pray for that person for a while before healing comes. To do nothing and to harbor all kinds of resentments is not an option. I truly believe that those we have not shown mercy to or those we haven’t given the satisfaction of our forgiveness will end up being our judges as we attempt to enter heaven. For some of us, including myself, that could be a pretty scary meeting. I thinking of all those I judged harshly. Maybe I didn’t feel they were important enough to take my time. Maybe I was stingy with my forgiveness and made them feel terribly guilty before I would forgive. I just pray that they will be more merciful to me then I was to them.
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The readings today speak of the respect and love we are to have for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s the call to be courageous in facing one another when issues arise. Most of us truly dislike confrontations. We would rather have peace and often will let things go rather than deal with them. The problem is we don’t really let things go. We usually run to another person and talk about the person we have had an issue with. That begins the process of gossip, drama and fractured communities. We see it in most church communities. There are “turf” wars and cliques, the in group and the outsiders, etc. I believe more arguments happen over turf and more people leave parish communities over being hurt than over any doctrine.
Paul reminds us in the second reading that we are to owe nothing to anyone except to love one another. He says that all the commandments are summed up in the saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He goes on to say that “love does no evil to the neighbor; hence love is the fulfillment of the law.” No matter how loving a community is, we are all human and prone to weakness. It’s when we feel fearful or threatened that we say things we’d rather not say. The call today is to look at our actions and our words, especially our words, and see whether those actions and words will bring evil or good to another. Maybe our question can be, when we find ourselves in a stressful or difficult moment: “what is the most loving thing I can do at this moment?” “will my next words build up or tear down my neighbor?” I am preaching to myself in this as I can easily get drawn in to gossip or petty nonsense. Maybe we can help each other to only speak words that will build each other up. If we have issues with one person, let’s go to that person rather than others. As any group cans set up a “church” but Christ is calling us to be His beloved community: a community of disciples who love one another and continue to build each other up. As beloved disciples, we can call each other to our best selves. May Nativity continue to be a place of respect, honestly, integrity and deep compassion for one another. This week end we celebrate Labor Day with family gatherings and end of summer cookouts. It may be a weekend to get away that one last time to the cottage for a last summer break. Hopefully for most of us, it’s a leisurely day to rest from our “labors”.
In the midst of our leisure it may also be a time to remember and pray for those who must labor on this weekend. We remember all of those who don’t get a day off this weekend. We remember nurses and aides in hospitals and nursing homes; those in our fire and police departments; our military personnel overseas; our brothers and sisters involved in the recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana and the list goes on and on. I also think about those waitresses and those in poor paying jobs who have to work all the holidays because they don’t get paid for days off and have to work to just pay their bills. This isn’t to spoil our cookout or make us feel guilty. It’s just to make use more aware of all those who work so very hard and often get little recognition and compensation for the work of their hands. The other part of this weekend is to thank God for the work that we’ve been given and the blessing that work has brought to our life and to the lives of many that have been effected by our toil. Although, when the alarm goes off, and we awake for a new day, we may not thank God for the work that has been given to us but it truly it is sacred and holy work. It reminds us that we are important and part of something greater than ourselves. It gives meaning to our lives. So maybe this weekend, we pray for those who work in difficult jobs and are not compensated as they should be. We pray that one day all people will receive a living wage and be able to live their lives with dignity and pride. We also thank God for the work that we have been given to do in our life time. May we continue to be faithful to the work God has entrusted to each of us. It is with great sadness that we pass on the news of the death of Denise Bailey. Denise is the wife of Thurman Bailey, the mother of Tiana, and sister of Kim Milligan and Cheryl Dandridge. Denise is especially known for being the hard worker behind the scenes at the funeral luncheons. She never looked for credit or praise but just did what had to be done. She will be sorely missed by her immediate family and her family at Nativity. Denise, may God hold you now in the palm of his hand and give you the peace that we all seek. You have been a good and faithful servant to so many. Rest now from you labors for you have lived your life well! Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.
Today, Jesus, in the gospel, asks, “who do people say I am?” and the he asks “And YOU, who do You say I am?” That’s the million dollar question that all of us have to answer. Who is Jesus to us? Is he a good man, a prophet, who lived 2,000 years ago? Is he the One we go to when things get tough and we need help? Is he the Lord we praise every Sunday? Do we admire him for his healings, his compassion, his good life? Or…do we see Him as the center of our lives? Do all of our decisions come from our relationship with Christ? Do we view life any differently than those who don’ see Christ as their Savior? If our lives are not challenged each day because we are a follower of Christ, then something’s wrong. If Christ is at our center, the we will see life differently than others. We will look from the bottom up rather than the top down. We will look at those who are poor and vulnerable as our most important priority. We will sacrifice comfort for the good of the other. We will form relationships with people we saw as different from ourselves. We will not be about status but about compassion. So who is Jesus to us? Are we willing to follow him? Beatification of Father Solanus Casey
OK...I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Nativity has been given 200 tickets to attend the Beatification Mass for Solanus Casey on November 18th at 4PM at Ford Field. The bad news is that we have to secure the 200 places with names and have them sent in by Wednesday, August 16th. This means we have to move quickly! I realize this is the picnic weekend and not everyone will get a bulletin but I also know that word of mouth goes through our grapevine very quickly! So, if you know someone who would like to attend this celebration please have them call the Parish House before Wednesday and secure a place for themselves. We would like to limit tickets to 4 per household/family until everyone has a chance to participate. The if there are more spaces available, we can offer them on a first come/first serve basis. Once the 200 tickets are distributed, there will be no other tickets available. I truly hope our parish will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the life of Solanus Casey as well as the faith of the Church of Detroit. This is truly an historic moment for the Church and the City of Detroit. I don't suspect we will have another local beatification in our lifetime. So let's come together with many people of faith throughout the metro Detroit area and celebrate God's grace in the life of Solanus and in all of our lives! |
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