Guide me, Lord, along the Everlasting Way"

Today's Mass Readings

The readings for today are rich with several themes. Both the first reading from Wisdom and the Gospel from Luke mention sin. In wisdom here, “Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin. For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit and withdraws from senseless counsels; and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.” Jesus, meanwhile, notes that things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but “woe to the one through whom they occur.” And yet the message of this passage is not one of simple hellfire and damnation, rather, Jesus offers a command to correct those who sin and to forgive those who repent. This was a difficult task for the Apostles, just as it is a difficult task for us today. Hence the Apostles beg Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus responds by saying that faith the size of a mustard seed is already enough to do impressive things – like move a mulberry tree. In looking at these two readings, we see that the presence of sin prevents the dwelling of wisdom in a person and that causing sin will be punished. And yet, we also see a message of forgiveness; we are called to forgive others who sin, despite the gravity of sin. And how do we do this? Both admonishing the sinner and forgiving the sinner are serious tasks in our Christian lives. We might be tempted, like the Apostles, to ask Jesus to increase our faith in order to make us capable of these spiritual tasks.

What is needed, however, is also indicated in these passages, and especially in the psalm. “Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way” we pray, in the midst of a psalm that speaks of God’s intimate knowledge of ourselves. Resting in God, living in God, acknowledging his inescapable presence – this is the faith that makes it possible for us to forgive. Wisdom also echoes this theme: “Love justice, you who judge the earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart; Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.” The passage ends, by saying that “the Spirit of the Lord fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what man says.” Do we recognize this? Do we understand how our world is permeated by God’s Spirit? Do we comprehend how we ourselves are permeated by God? Do we love justice and seek God? It is from here that both the recognition of sin and true forgiveness can come.

Let us seek God in integrity of heart, striving to recognize his manifold presence in our world and in our lives. May our repose in God grant us the graces of acknowledging and forgiving the sins of others and of ourselves.

- Maria Morrow