By
Charles Muchiri
Tuesday,
February 28, 2012
Liturgical
Year B, Cycle II
Tuesday
of the First week of Lent
Readings
for Mass
First
Reading: Isaiah
55: 10–11
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalms
34: 4–5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
Gospel:
Matthew
6: 7-15
 |
| Unforgiving servant |
Christ
is so good to us, that despite offering Himself to be the Way to God the
Father, He also gave us the words that we should use, every time we wish to
talk to God.
Through
this prayer, Christ – who is God indeed – only knows how best a request can be
packaged in order to have the attention of the Heavenly ear.
On
the other hand, teaches the Catechist of the Catholic Church, “As Word
incarnate, he knows in his human heart the needs of his human brothers and
sisters and reveals them to us: he is the model of our prayer,”
And
even so, there is one article that sticks out on the Lord’s Prayer: “And Forgive Us
Our Trespasses, as we forgive those who Trespass Against us"
This
is certainly the only petition that comes with both a condition and a promise.
A condition in that, as long as we have not sought to forgive those who have
wronged us, then seeking God’s forgiveness for our own sins is only but
counterproductive: And a promise in that as much as we have forgiven those who
have wronged us, then we can expect God to hear our petition for forgiveness.
Christ stresses this point further with the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, (Matthew 18: 21 – 35)
The
Church summarizes this so superbly: “Christian prayer extends to the
forgiveness of enemies, transfiguring the disciple by configuring
him to his Master. Forgiveness is a high-point of Christian prayer; only hearts
attuned to God's compassion can receive the gift of prayer. Forgiveness also
bears witness that, in our world, love is stronger than sin. the martyrs of
yesterday and today bear this witness to Jesus. Forgiveness is the fundamental
condition of the reconciliation of the children of God with their Father and of
men with one another” (CCC 2844)
So,
rest we forget; as we seek for the forgiveness of our sins this season, let us
remember that we have a huge role to pray, in forgiving those who have wronged
us.
/Get
in touch with this writer: muchirimuchoki@yahoo.com/
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