The Supremacy of Honesty
The first reading of today’s Liturgy of the Word of the Mass–from the Book of the Prophet Daniel–introduces the characters of Susanna, and later of Daniel. Even in his youth, he exercises a sincere protection for the virtue of honesty, of seeing and judging with wisdom the elements of reality when they are held up to Truth. Blessed Susanna is saved by such wisdom, and those who shame it, walk in peril.
For so many of us, honesty is cherished only when it serves our desires and we can be often tempted to subvert it for our own interests (who of us can admit that we are not that dissimilar to the two elder judges?). Yet, if we consider how Our Lord served honesty and Truth, He proclaimed, “I am He, the One speaking with you”…to the detriment of his physical safety and the longevity of his human life. The honesty of the Lord allowed Him to judge things aright, and ultimately, to offer his life as a ransom for ours, in order to uphold what is truly Right and Good. In all honesty, then, we can see how every one of us really did need–and continues to need–the offering Christ gave of himself on Calvary.
One way we might honor the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, is to cherish honesty in our own day, to serve this supreme good, and walk the path that follows the Lord to eternal life.
Embracing & Letting Go
Biblical imagery can be very stark, indeed powerful. Picture the lioness: her jaws can rip, tear and snap something hunted, yet they can also serve and protect, gently carry a weaning cub from danger to safety…the grip is clear yet much, much less intense.
The grip: its intensity can either smother or it can offer protective care. Transfer this image to the way you treat objects as ‘goods’. Consider how you might cling tightly to things and people that are not actually good for you. Learn to let go of a dysfunctional relationship, of a position in a toxic work environment, of a career that doesn’t bring satisfaction, of unhappiness, of being in control. In this, and in so many other ways, you can begin to allow your grip to cling healthily to the Lord Jesus, who constantly invites us to take Hid hand into our own and be led to freedom, wholeness, and the fullness of life in Him.
Compliment Beauty
In just a few short months, I’ll be leading a group of fifty pilgrims to Italy. One of our resting points will be Rome and the Vatican. There, I hope to expose our pilgrims to the various rewarding aspects of our overall journey, including faith, culture and, of course, art.
One of my favorite destinations in the city is the Galleria Borghese, where masterpieces of talent and faith are literally at our fingertipsone such piece being Bernini’s “Daphne & Chloe” (seen here…with little fragile leaves growing form her fingertips and toes…paper-thin stone). Whenever I view it, I wish I could stand with Bernini and simply thank him, reward him for his great work…one of so many throughout the Eternal City.
For some people, it is hard to give a compliment. Why? Perhaps it’s because they feel they are leaving a bit of themselves behind (i.e. when complimenting a success they risk themselves in showing appreciation, in identifying another as contributing something to themselves that they couldn’t have possessed without it being offered by the other). For others, giving a compliment is too costly, simply because it reveals a kind of felt need for the gifts of others to be offered to themselves.
Today, it might serve us to consider the gifts that others are offering to us. These offered gifts enrich us somehow, encourage to seek “beauty”, “righteousness”, and even “the Good”. Those gifts are real blessings to us..we know it…and now, we acknowledge them as such, and compliment, bless their generous sharers.
Forgive As You Are Forgiven
Last evening, forty-three of our 2nd graders celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the very first time. They experienced the Lord’s never-ending mercy and love, which they receive at no cost to themselves. Yes, we are forgiven freely by God once we are able to seek such a reconciliation.
Oftentimes, the sins of others can hurt us deeply and most painfully. Yet, if we acknowledge how God forgives us freely and readily, and further, if we keep in mind the truth that Christ’s whole offering of Himself was for just this exact purpose–our freedom from sin and death–then how much more might we be ready to freely offer forgiveness to those who hurt or offend us?
Today, consider someone who has hurt you deeply…pray to the Lord for courage and for conviction…and then forgive them as you have been forgiven: freely, fully, and with great love and mercy.
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