(Homily for March 3, 2018).
“He does not retain his anger for ever because he delights in
steadfast love. He will again have compassion upon us, he will tread our
iniquities under foot.” Micah 7:18-19.
The story of the Prodigal Son as narrated by Jesus Christ in the
Gospel of Luke is one story that tells us a lot about the attitude of God
towards mankind as well as the attitude that we should have towards our fellow
brothers and sisters. Jesus told this story because he was accused of being too
close to the tax collectors and sinners.
By giving us the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus teaches us
that God is compassionate. He is like the Father who was the first to receive
his son upon returning to him and not just that, he restored him immediately to
his position and gave a great banquet in his honour.
Why does God behave like this? How come God did not first punish
the boy at least before welcoming him back? Wouldn’t that have been the most
reasonable thing to do since the boy really offended his father? God does not
punish us because he pities for us. He knows that sin (our departure from his
presence) is already enough punishment for us.
Like fish designed to survive only in water, we were designed to
live as his sons and daughters within his house. When we rebel against him, we
are like a fish trying to etch a living for itself on land. No matter how
enticing sin is, it only brings us untold suffering and hardship. There was no
way the boy would have survived on his own. The Father knew this and felt pity
for him. The Father’s feeling of pity eventually outweighed his anger over the
son’s behaviour.
Every temptation is a lie; it is Satan promising to give us
something we can never get; we punish ourselves each time we try to seek
freedom outside of God’s rules and instructions. Every sin is self-inflicted punishment.
As St. Paul says: “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. When a fish becomes
tired of water and says it wants to live on land, it deserves to be pitied because
it does not know it is digging its own grave.
In a similar vein, when people offend us, they deserve our pity
much more than our anger. The easiest way to forgive others is to be like God;
to bear in mind that those who sin against us are suffering from a lack of all
that they would have benefited from us if they had remained with us. Do not be
angry with anyone forever.
Take it that by offending you, they do not know what they are
doing. This was the attitude of Jesus on the cross. He begged for our forgiveness
because he know we acted out of ignorance. Confer Luke 23:34. Those who offend
us do so out of ignorance; they think they can do without us not knowing this
world is a small place. Like fish not designed to live on land, we humans are
not designed to survive without each other.
Do not hold enmity with anyone for ever, make excuses for them; let
your pity be strong enough to overshadow away your anger, that they have walked
away from you is already enough punishment. The fact is that as much as they need
you, you also need them. No one is born an island.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me a very large heart, purge away from me
all bitterness, all past pains, all hatred and all forms of evil intentions
against others. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 2nd week of Lent.
Bible Study: Micah 7:14-20 and Luke 15:1-32).
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