Homily
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
St. Lawrence Catholic Center at the University of Kansas
26 March 2019
Jesus always loves us where we need it most but deserve it least. It's the most beautiful thing in the world. That we are loved over and over and over, with God never losing patience, never giving up on us, never tiring of forgiving. Here is what is perhaps my favorite line of Pope Francis' pontificate so far - Jesus doesn't tire of forgiving. Jesus' mercy is the most beautiful thing in the world. But so what, unless it is also for us the most real thing.
What is more, Jesus forgives us from his heart. His forgiveness is the total gift of himself. It is not a superficial tolerance . . .don't worry about it . it's no big deal . . . while at the same time plotting not to allow himself to be betrayed or hurt by us again. No, his forgiveness always costs him everything. He bleeds for us.
So we are forgiven where we need it most but deserve it least, and from the heart? What is our response to this mercy, if we know it to be real? Jesus says the litmus test is our forgiveness of others. Have we ever for given anyone the way that Jesus forgives us, let alone 70x7 times? I'm not sure I ever have.
Tolerance is easier. Don't worry about it. Do your thing. But give me space to do my thing.
Tolerance is distance. Mercy is intimacy. Mercy lies at the very heart of God. If we dare mercy, we are at the heart of all reality Do we run away or draw near to those who need our forgiveness? And when we confess, do we grab our get out of jail free card and run back to who we were before, or do we give his mercy permission to enter a new place in our heart, those places of presumption, complacency, stubbornness and despair?
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
St. Lawrence Catholic Center at the University of Kansas
26 March 2019
Jesus always loves us where we need it most but deserve it least. It's the most beautiful thing in the world. That we are loved over and over and over, with God never losing patience, never giving up on us, never tiring of forgiving. Here is what is perhaps my favorite line of Pope Francis' pontificate so far - Jesus doesn't tire of forgiving. Jesus' mercy is the most beautiful thing in the world. But so what, unless it is also for us the most real thing.
What is more, Jesus forgives us from his heart. His forgiveness is the total gift of himself. It is not a superficial tolerance . . .don't worry about it . it's no big deal . . . while at the same time plotting not to allow himself to be betrayed or hurt by us again. No, his forgiveness always costs him everything. He bleeds for us.
So we are forgiven where we need it most but deserve it least, and from the heart? What is our response to this mercy, if we know it to be real? Jesus says the litmus test is our forgiveness of others. Have we ever for given anyone the way that Jesus forgives us, let alone 70x7 times? I'm not sure I ever have.
Tolerance is easier. Don't worry about it. Do your thing. But give me space to do my thing.
Tolerance is distance. Mercy is intimacy. Mercy lies at the very heart of God. If we dare mercy, we are at the heart of all reality Do we run away or draw near to those who need our forgiveness? And when we confess, do we grab our get out of jail free card and run back to who we were before, or do we give his mercy permission to enter a new place in our heart, those places of presumption, complacency, stubbornness and despair?
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