Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
What does it take for us to be moved by compassion? In today’s Gospel, the Master is moved with compassion when the servant bows down and begs for mercy. The servant also promises to pay the master in full. When the servant refuses to show the same compassion, the Master intervenes. The story almost feels easy to place ourselves.
Years ago, there was a young person I knew who struggled with drug addiction and everyone judged them harshly because of it. I admit I wasn’t charitable at first until I heard the person’s story. Imagine having a parent that used drugs and taught their child to smoke marijuana at age seven to help them stay calm. And when the parent graduated to heroin the child did as well at age twelve. How could anyone after having heard that story not be moved with compassion?
Even St. Patrick a man who had been taken prisoner and then escaped was moved by compassion. Risking his life and freedom he returned in faith to share the Gospel where he once had been a slave. God put it on St. Patrick’s heart to convert a nation.
Lent is a time when bow down and ask the Master to be patient with us and forgive us our debts. The Lord’s mercy, compassion, and kindness are from old. Though we may be judged harshly, or perhaps even judge ourselves unkindly, we have a God who knows our story and desires a conversion of our hearts. Let God’s compassion flow upon you today so that it might free you from slavery.
Deacon Michael Montgomery