RETURN TO ME
WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART
WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART
When we find ourselves wanting to judge and blame others, let us turn
our gaze inward.
In today's first
reading, we hear Azariah praying to God. He acknowledges God's justice in
allowing Israel to be taken into captivity, but, at the same time, he asks God
to deliver them from it, begging Him to remember the promise He made to Abraham,
to Isaac and to Israel. This reading from the Book of Daniel assures us of
remaining steadfast in faith and in the constant hope of deliverance:
"Deliver us by Your wonders, and bring glory to Your name, O Lord"
(Dn 3:43). The Responsorial Psalm repeats the plea for God to be mindful of His
former goodness: "Remember Your compassion and love, O Lord; for they are
ages old" (Ps 25:6).
As we reflect and
pray on our own faith journey, we long for God's continued help and His
merciful forgiveness of our wrong doings. Our prayer might sound something like
this: "Don't look at my wrongdoings, for I trust in You." It is on
that trust that we base our lives; on that trust, we speak, we act, and we
live. We trust that God will never fail us. This is our Faith, and it is in
this that we boast. God never fails. He will not make us lose face, and He will
not let us down.
The Gospel of
Matthew tells us the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. An employee owes his
boss a lot of money and, lacking the funds, he begs to be given time to repay
him. His boss, surprisingly, forgives him of the entire debt. However, on the
way out of the office, this employee reminds a fellow co-worker that he owes
him a small amount of money. He demands that it be paid immediately and
threatens to send him to prison if it isn't. When the boss finds out about
this, he has the unforgiving servant "handed over to the torturers until
he should pay back the whole debt" (Mt 18:34).
It is not
surprising that we find it hard to forgive. This is how our human nature is -
fallen and sinful. It does take a bigness to forgive. That is why it is easy
for God to forgive but difficult for us, although, Jesus' story, today, is
meant to motivate us in finding the bigness needed for forgiveness. As we
prayed during this reflection, "I trust in You," then we need to give
God and others our love, with a whole heart!
Lent is a very good
time to practice abstaining from bad habits. When we find ourselves wanting to
judge and blame others, let us turn our gaze inward. How often have you and I
refused to give what we so dearly wish to receive?
Do I have a
contrite heart and humble spirit so I can receive?