Humility and Forgiveness.
Today is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the readings for today have a particular focus on two virtues: humility and forgiveness (specifically, the forgiveness and mercy of God). It struck me this morning that these two virtues, or to put it another way, the habits of humility and repentance, are virtues that seem to be more and more absent from our society. Yet, these virtues of humility and forgiveness are, according to the second reading today from Philippians, central in the life and mission of Jesus Christ.
Do nothing out of selfishness, or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others (cf. Philippians 2:1-11).
How many of us in the last week (or even the last 24 hours) have thought of ourselves as "better" than someone else? I do think this is something that we can fall into all too easily. But I also want to avoid the other extreme of self-deprecation. As someone who has struggled with scrupulosity, it is important to have a properly balanced view of things: yes, I am a sinner; but am I seeking the Lord with my whole heart each day, and do I repent when I fail? If the answer to both of those questions is "yes," then I can be confident that I am on the right path. In a similar vein, though, if I am growing complacent in my own relationship with God where I am unwilling to leave my comfort zone? Am I allowing myself to be stretched to grow into who I am made to be by being purified of even the small offenses against God or the tiny attitudes that are in need of purification within me? This is necessary to continue to grow in our relationship with God. We are called to desire God so much that even venial sins are unthinkable to us. Granted, that's going to take some work and it may be that we're still working on being purified of certain venial sins till the day we die. But all the same, do I want to let go of them? Truly want to be free of them? If I truly want that, then I will pursue the purification.
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| "Death but not sin." -St. Dominic Savior, 14-year-old saint who made this promise when he received his First Communion |
Now when it comes to looking out for the interests of others, I think many of us would like to think that we do. We share posts and try to raise awareness so that we are being a voice for those who are on the fringes of society and whose dignity is not being upheld. That's a good thing. But here's perhaps a purifying reflection: do we desire the salvation of the souls of those whom we tend to despise?
I can hear the collective "Oof" as I type the words. Probably because it's coming from within me, too.
Do I desire that those who are distasteful to me ultimately end up in Heaven? That's a hard question. But I know the answer should be "yes."
Now, follow-up to that question: what are we doing to make that a reality? Do I pray for those whom I find difficult to love?
I highly recommend Fr. Josh Johnson's "Litany of the Body of Christ" in this particular instance. Insert the name of the person you are thinking of in this prayer, and keep repeating it until you find yourself receptive to the truth of it: "[Name] is the Body of Christ." If you are not sure if that person has been baptized into the Body of Christ, you can pray instead, "[Name] is the image and likeness of God."
When we can do this, when we can love our enemies and desire their salvation, we become the Body of Christ in the world: we become conformed to Jesus, washing the feet of Judas who would betray Him within hours.
Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave...he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (cf. Philippians 2:1-11)
Now let's look at the first reading from Ezekiel 18:25-28. The Lord says through the prophet Ezekiel: "Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? ...if [someone] turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."
As I read these words, I couldn't help but think of our society today. In the midst of "cancel culture" and other movements, as I've said before, I see a dreadful lack of the forgiveness and humility that we see in Christ. These two virtues are, again, central to the ministry and saving mission of Jesus. Yet...they are the two virtues that our society seems to be the most opposed to at present. A person who has done wrong is condemned. But then, if that person even makes a movement toward repentance, and actually shows signs of change at present, society does not care if they have repented. They still stand condemned and "unforgivable".
But...is this Christlike?
I think we know the answer.
"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more” (John 8:7b-11).
First, I'd like to take a look at the act of repentance. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 1450, it says:
"'Penance requires...the sinner to endure all things willingly, be contrite of heart, confess with the lips, and practice complete humility and fruitful satisfaction.'"
In other words, true penance, true repentance, requires that the sinner acknowledge the wrong they have done and endure the consequences of those actions, acknowledge aloud (in this case to a Confessor in the sacrament of Reconciliation) the wrong they have done, and humble themselves by making fruitful satisfaction. Fruitful satisfaction, I believe, includes giving evidence through words and actions that you are truly repentant of the sins you have committed in the past and you are doing what you believe is within your power to atone for those past sins.
The Catechism goes on to describe that an act of contrition should express sorrow and detestation for the sin committed and a firm resolution to not commit that sin again (cf. CCC 1451).
Now, if you've ever been to Confession, you know that acknowledging and voicing the sins that you have committed, especially the ones that are most shameful, takes serious humility. You have to make yourself small before God and before the priest who is acting in persona Christi and acknowledge that you are not who you should be. But the great thing about the sacrament of Reconciliation is that when you make that Act of Contrition and you have that resolve not to sin again, you are truly forgiven.
I think that we see this kind of repentance illustrated in the parable Jesus proclaims in today's Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32.
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "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 said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards 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. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."
The first son, though he begins in a place of rebellion against his father, repents of his rebellion and ultimately does the father's will. The second son, for whatever reason, gives lip service to the father by agreeing to do his will, but then when it comes time to actually carry it out, he excuses himself and does not follow through.
In the spirit of lectio divina, place yourself in that story and meditate upon it. Which son do you more often tend to be in your life? Either way, there is room for repentance. But, for myself personally, this Gospel passage always reminds me of something that was shared with me by one of my household brothers at Franciscan University.
Certain passages of Scripture always bring me back to particular moments in my life. Today's second reading is one of them, and the Gospel is another. The second reading is one that was very dear to me and my household sisters at Franciscan University of Steubenville (the Warriors of the Word). But the Gospel brings me back to a joint Lord's Day we celebrated with our brother household, Disciples of the Word, when I was a sophomore with this Gospel. One of my household brothers shared that the second son was more often who he saw himself as, not because he didn't want to do God's will, but because he would put it off, excuse himself until a later time, and think that he had plenty of time to embrace God's will later on.
That has always stuck with me. I think, too often, this is the trap we fall into: the trap of thinking we have plenty of time to be holy, plenty of time to become saints. But...do we? Jesus is very clear: we know neither the day nor the hour when we will be called home. So what are we to do? Respond today. Become a saint today. Take one concrete step toward sainthood today.
I think this is the point Jesus is making in the last words of the Gospel today. He is calling the chief priests and elders to wake up to the fact that there are people whom they would view as "worse sinners" than themselves who are entering the kingdom of God ahead of them because they are repenting. The prostitutes and tax collectors are recognizing their own unworthiness and they are doing something about it. This is a wake up call to all of us, really. When we see others repenting of their faults, and remember we mean true contrition that comes with humility and "fruitful satisfaction", that should call us to repent ourselves. When I see someone asking for forgiveness for something, my automatic response should not be: "They're probably insincere and just doing it for the publicity." My response should be: "What things do I need to repent of and make satisfaction for?"
Let us pray today for a greater receptivity to God's grace, that we may humble ourselves, be conformed to Christ, repent of our sins, and forgive as we have been forgiven. Lord, teach us to be humble, and to forgive others as you have forgiven us. Purify us from all sin and all attachment to sin, that we may be ever more faithful witnesses to Your love and Your mercy. Amen.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
the Itinerant Catechist
