Today I am endeavouring to begin recording my meditations and thoughts on the days bible readings from Mass. It is also the day before the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day marks the start of St Michaels Lent which is the forty days before the feast of St Michael. I have decided to participate this year as a means of devoting myself to growing in virtue and waring against the vices which I so easily fall into. As part of this endeavour I am trying to actively devote myself daily to bible reading and earnest prayer. As part of that, by means of accountability, I am going to share my daily thoughts on the bible readings daily. Hopefully this becomes a habit which continues on after St Michaels Lent.
First Reading
Joshua 3:7-17
This is the story of the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, miraculously crossing the Jordan on dry ground. In this passage God makes evident his continued presence with his people by going before them into the water in the Ark of the Covenant and causing the waters of the Jordan to stop. That is what is foundational to me in this first passage. God’s manifest evident presence.
As a practicing evangelical for most of my adult life from my mid teens to a few years ago, I did feel God’s presence in very real ways at points through my life. But to be honest I felt the distance and separation more. I didn’t really fully understand why or what was causing this until I started to being convinced of my Catholic faith of which I was brought up in. That feeling of distance was because the sacraments weren’t a living presence in my life, particularly the eucharist. As a mere symbolic feast in the independent Evangelical church I attended it didn’t, and could never, fulfil the hungering of soul. It satiated partially but I always felt there was more.
What a gift it is to know Christ is really, truly present in the bread and wine. Body, blood, soul and divinity. It is unbelievable at times, for which I pray “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.” All I know for sure is that every time visiting the blessed sacrament I grow more and more certain of the truth of it. What love! What grace! Thank you Lord. Let us know Christ ever presence with us every time we partake in the blessed sacrament with all meekness and humility.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 18:21-19:1
The Gospel reading today is the parable of the King who forgave the debts of his servant. This is an interesting passage. It shows God’s immense grace and mercy but also his justice. The servant owes an unpayable debt to the king. The word used for the amount is the highest possible number in the Greek language at the time. So Jesus is telling his audience there was no possible way this servant could ever have paid this sum back. He begs for forgiveness and the King is merciful and forgives the debt. However the servant is not so gracious to a fellow who owes him a tiny fraction of what he owed the King. The king finds out and is furious, imprisons him until he can make restitution.
Now this parable is directly linked to forgiveness. We see it is in response to Peter’s question of “how many times should I forgive my brother.” Jesus answers with the famous phrase “seventy times seven” which is in essence him telling Peter infinitely. This parable is Jesus’ warning about harbouring unforgiveness. Not simply that unforgiveness is bad but unforgiveness should be unthinkable in light of the forgiveness God has given us. This is hard. People really hurt us. But if we hope to be anything like Christ, through all the scars, blood and tears – we need to forgive.
More broadly I think it should be sobering to us in other aspects other than forgiveness. God is eternally good to us, how much will we be judged for not showing goodness to other. What about love? Patience? Gentleness? What does God freely give to me, to you, that we do not willing impart to others? Some people its easy to do. But what about those whom we find it hard? A frustrating work colleague, an annoying family member. Lots of people do not deserve our love, kindness and patience. The point of the parable is, neither do we deserve God’s love and grace. Our deservedness is not a consideration for God’s love. It is freely given. Likewise neither should our fellows deservedness be a consideration of our love. It should be flowing freely, without reserve.
Closing Prayer
I want to close acknowledging and thanking God for what he has shown through this scripture reading in prayer.
Lord, God the Father
Through the Ark you made yourself evidently present to your people
We thank you that you are ever present with us
Lord, Jesus Christ, begotten Son of God
Through the Eucharist you come to us body, blood, soul and divinity
We thank you that you sustain and nourish us
Holy Spirit, Helper Comforter,
Through your conviction and guidance grant us the strength to give our love, patience and forgiveness freely as Christ freely gave himself for us.
Amen