Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The media these days, prior to the coming elections, are filled with anger and bitterness, contrary to Christ’s teachings in today’s Gospel.
Christ teaches us to make progress in living a fraternal life is how we regard others. Every person is our brother or sister, no matter what thy say or do. The sinner is never one we condemn; he is one to be saved.
To pardon one who has offended me is not easy. I must go out of my way to do so. I cannot wait until he pardons himself, which he may never do. Also, every Christian community is called to repent and as a member of that community, I must help it do so.
When we gather at Mass, we assemble as a fraternal group, united in prayer, ready to forgive and to be forgiven by all. Difficult to do? Let us reflect on what we read in the second reading: “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Resolve: The next time I prepare to receive Holy Communion, I shall ask the Lord to forgive me for my lack of pardon for others and that he will give the same grace to those about me, who receive the Eucharist with me.