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Sunday, September 11, 2005

A Wound that Time Cannot Heal?


Today's first reading at mass today:




Wrath and anger are hateful things,

yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance,
for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor’s injustice;
then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD?
Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,
can he seek pardon for his own sins?
If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,
who will forgive his sins?
Remember your last days, set enmity aside;
remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;
remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.
(Sirach 27:30--28:7)


Part of Today's Homily:



Pat and Daniel grew up together. They were friends for 20 years before Daniel did something to Pat that Pat wouldn't forgive. Looking back it was a minor incident, but like a supperating wound, it grew and festered with time until Pat had become so consumed with it that God decided to step in. He sent down Pat's guardian angel.

The angel came to Pat and said that in order to heal the situation, he would offer Pat anything he wanted. But there was a caveat--if he asked for anything, Daniel would get double whatever was asked. Pat said, "So if I ask for a new house, you will give Daniel two new houses?"
"That's right," said the angel.
"And if I asked for a million dollars--"
"Daniel would get two million dollars, that's right," said the angel.
Pat mulled it over and asked the angel to come back the next day for his answer.

The next day the angel returned to Pat.
"Now, I want to make sure that I understand this. If I ask for something, you will give it to me AND you will give Daniel double of whatever I ask?"
"That is the deal, yes."
"Ok," said Pat, "I want you to make my blind in one eye."


Today is September 11, 2005.
How do you begin to forgive the events that occured four years ago?


Photograph courtesy of Chad C.




Comments:
I got a similar feeling from that reading as well. Truly an interesting "coincidence."
 
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