A BAROMETER OF THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES WITH ONE ANOTHER –
Each of us has others for whom we deeply care. We want the best for the members of our family and for the persons of the parish community with which we identify.
As deeply as we care for others, there are “bumps in the road” from time to time. We are meant to live in harmony and in peace with one another, but this doesn’t always happen. A residual effect of Original Sin is that we each have an inclination to turn away from the One Who is the Source of that love and harmony that we are meant to experience with one another. This happens as we find that we are too tired or too busy to make time for prayer and worship on a regular basis.
As we wander away from the One Who is the Source of that love and harmony for which we yearn, this affects our relationships with ourselves, with others and with the environment. We can all too easily give in to the inclination to take short-cuts in regard to these relationships. As a result of this, we hurt ourselves, others, the environment and the Lord.
When we experience pain in living and in interacting with one another, it can be all too easy to locate the source of our difficulties in others. For example, if only he would act in this way, or if only she wouldn’t be so stubborn, our life would be a lot smoother.
Whenever we are inclined to locate the source of our difficulties in getting along with others outside of ourselves, hopefully, this will challenge us to stop and to look at ourselves. The unconditional love that the Lord has for each of us offers us the motivation to ask ourselves questions such as the following: how have I hurt and offended others? Where or for what specifically do I need to receive the Lord’s forgiveness? Do I need to make an attitude adjustment in the way I relate to myself, to others, to the environment and to the Lord?
The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers us a unique opportunity to make the Lord’s offer to forgive us all of our sins our own in a personal way. Let’s look at what can happen as we celebrate this Sacrament on a regular frequent basis.
First, we are set free to grow into becoming “the best version of ourselves.” This happens as more and more we increase in the ability to receive and to extend to one another that love of which the Lord is the Source. A sign indicating that this is happening is that we will strive to put forth our best effort to honor the Lord in all that we do, whether we are at work, at play, in school and in all situations in which we interact with others. We will grow into the ability to assume the best about others even when we don’t understand why they act as they do and when we are hurt by what they might say and/or do. Hopefully, our patient example will bring out the best in others. When we assume the best about others who have hurt us as individuals and as a parish community, the Lord sometimes works to lead those who have offended us to have a change of heart and a corresponding change in the manner in which they relate to those whom they have hurt.
Let’s never forget, however, that others have a free will. With this awareness, we will accept the truth that we do not control the outcome in regard to our efforts to relate to others as the Lord wants us to do this. No matter what might happen to us personally, we will grow in the ability to be at peace with ourselves, as our Lord experienced this when He left this world.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Nelson Beaver – Pastor