Monday Morning Musing on Forgiveness

In discussing the concept of forgiveness, our priest during his homily this past Sunday referred to Jesus on the cross forgiving the Jews and Romans for killing him. It occurred to me that this was, at the very least, literally incorrect. Since Catholics believe in Lectio Divina instead of Sola Scriptura, I thought my criticism needed further examination.

First off, to the Bible! Luke 23:34 (New American Bible)
"Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
So, Jesus does not forgive "them" but goes out of His way to ask his Father in Heaven to forgive them!

Just to be clear, all throughout the Gospels we read how Jesus forgives sinners and sends them on their way and tells them not to sin again, etc. But not in this case. He doesn't forgive them. Instead He asks God the Father to forgive them.

What can we draw from Jesus' last (human) act on Earth? What moral teaching are we to get from this? Are we asked to walk around forgiving everyone who harms us? Or, instead, are we to ask our Father in Heaven to forgive them? It makes a difference, doesn't it, whether I'm asked to forgive someone (something which I'm not personally sure is within my abilities as a human being to do) or to rely on God's forgiveness and mercy for the Other's transgression toward me.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church chooses instead to focus its interpretation of this passage on the mercy offered to those who sin out of ignorance.

Mozart and Springsteen

(Random) thought:

If we take into consideration musical themes and length of lines, we must conclude that:
Mozart is the Bruce Springsteen of classical music. :-)

The Need for Catholic Friends

I've discussed this view before, at conferences, in private conversations and with other Catholic friends: due to the Devil's ruling of the world, it is important, it is imperative, that Catholics hang out with other Catholics, in order that we may reinforce each other against the Devil and his ways.

I was therefore comforted when I prayed today's Morning Office and was reminded of this fact by the Psalmist, who wrote in Psalm 101:

I will walk with an innocent heart

  through the halls of my palace.

I will allow no evil thing in my sight.

  I will hate the man who retreats from perfection:

  he may not stay near me.

The wicked of heart must leave me;

  the plotter of evil I will not acknowledge.

The man who plots against his neighbour in secret:

  I will suppress him.

The haughty of eye, the puffed-up and proud –

  I will not support them.

I will turn my eyes to the faithful of the land:

  they shall sit with me.

Whoever walks in the way of perfection –

  he shall be my servant.

The haughty shall not live in my palace;

  the slanderer shall not stand in my sight.

Each morning I will suppress

  all the wicked of the land.

I will rid the city of the Lord

  of all that do evil.

"I will hate the man who retreats from perfection: he may not stay near me." In the same way that we are asked not to be scandalous, we have to acknowledge the scandalous ways of our acquaintances, coworkers, friends. Having done so, having warned them of God's love for the good, and his dislike of the wicked, we can do no more than turn our backs on them. Not literally, of course, that would not be compassionate or charitable, but spiritually, we must mark these people as someone who does not have our best interests at heart.

Psalm 101 offers such powerful, insightful words. The Psalmist teaches us how to behave, what to look for in friends, what to look for in enemies (of the Lord and the Lord's ways). We are also given our mission in the last line I quote: "I will rid the city of the Lord of all that do evil." Is that not the Church's mission, to bring about the Kingdom of God? Does "Thy kingdom come..." from the Lord's Prayer ring any bells?

Don't kid yourself. This attitude is not at all politically correct! However, I seriously doubt that when I die Jesus will pull me aside and tell me that I don't belong at the Heavenly Banquet because I wasn't politically correct during my life. Now, he might very well tell me that I wasn't compassionate or loving enough toward my enemies (and car tailgaters, grrr!), and he would have a valid criticism. But no one acting on his/her concern for social graces alone will ever get into Heaven. How do I know this? Jesus was killed for living his life opposing Jewish social customs, for saying that instead of stoning each other for perceived sins, we should love one another and forgive each other. He has already told us that this world is not ours, its ways are not our ways.

Even though we must give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, we are not obliged to give Cesar any more than that, including our fealty, our love, our souls.

So, spend some time with your Catholic friends, teach each other about your faith, arm yourselves against the world and its evil ways. Be friendly, compassionate, loving (philia, agape) with your other friends, but don't get dragged down into their muck if they are unwilling to rise above it.