“I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:22
The readings from Scripture this weekend leave no doubt or room for confusion. As aggravating as the sins of others might be, we must bear in mind at all times that we, too, are sinners. And, how we deal with the reality of sin in others no longer relies on the means and motives proposed by “this world”: anger, vengeance, self-righteousness, pride, power and the desire for greater power over another. How do we deal with the reality of sin, in others and in ourselves, if we are true believers in and followers of Christ begins with the mercy of Our Lord? He is the revelation and embodiment of “the Most High’s covenant with us.” Sirach 28:6
We can truly create nothing in this world, but we do share in its unfolding and development. We cannot create independently a new human life, but we have been given a share in the mystery and wonder of procreation, bringing forward and together the sacred gifts of woman and man created in God’s image and likeness.
So, what does God’s mercy, divine forgiveness and genuine reconciliation look like? I think I would begin by thinking out loud that I know what it DOESN’T look or sound like! Patience is in short supply; emotions are frayed in the experience of restrictions on life as we usually know it; words we usually keep in a place well tucked away find their way into exchanges that become heated with no real hope of or desire to reconcile. No revelation of God here! God’s mercy and reconciliation looks like the tears changed from tears of anger to tears of renewal. It takes work! Effort! Faith! It takes seeing Christ stand with us, not over us, dying and rising for us while we were still in sin!