Un-Quiet Word for Today, Seventh Sunday of Easter
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Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them;”
and when he said this, he fell asleep.Acts of the Apostles 7: 60
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The Un-Quiet Word for Today, May 29th, 2022.
Only Forgiveness Brings Unity To The CommunityWhat two adjectives best describe your personal/ spiritual life? Two adjectives that are unmistakable, a distinguishing character trait? Something that even before you speak, ‘give you away’?
The readings and the challenge of the Gospel this weekend reveal what should for all believers/Christians be an unmistakable character ‘flaw’, an unhidden adjective, visible on our behavior or manners, and that is: The Christian fosters/brings unity. We are ‘unifiers’ not ‘dividers’, we do not live to disrupt unity/ community, hence the practice of forgiveness is a motto to the Christian. Reconciliation/ forgiveness is the initial approach for unity and must be lived in our lives
Notice that mere mention of unity or being a unifier in today’s world is very difficult. There is a lot of hesitation and bias even among Christians to be unifiers. The effort to bring unity can easily be dismissed as feeble and weak, yet this is what Christ himself intends for his Church ( ‘that they may be one’)
The first reading tells the story of the Stoning of Stephen (the first martyr). In the final moments of his life, he prays for his torturers/enemies: ‘Lord do not hold this in against them’. This is a prayer of forgiveness (plea for unity even in death) and a prayer of confidence too. (in the end, God’s will triumphs).
To his last breath Stephen prays for unity. Forgiveness in the initial step to bring about unity between the offender and the offended, thus establishing community.
If we fail to communicate forgiveness and unity, it fractures/ distorts the model image of openness and solidarity of the Father and the Son. This must be reflected in the community. The failure to do this leads to fragmentation and chaos we see and observe even in the present times. The Christian/ believer must reverse this in the world and bring about unity and reconciliation.
How you reconcile and forgive as husband and wife, effects unity/community
How Parents pardon their families after mistakes, errors, promotes unity/community
When Christian/ faith leaders try to overcome try to overcome centuries of hate by forgiving, they foster unity/community
Friends and relatives who overlook the past in reconciliation , bring unity/community.
When we are unforgiving or hold a grudge on those who hurt us and cut them off of our world of concern does that witness my Christian values?
When we complain about a lack of communion and then in turn, refuse to forgive and want to excommunicate others, what does that say?
When we disdain the fragmentation of society and the breakup of groups into factions here and factions there and yet refuse ourselves to pardon, how does this contribute to unity?
To receive the body and blood of Christ is to be challenged about unity/community. The Eucharist must compel us to reflect the unity between Father and Son and its presence or absence in our lives.
Break that which disrupts unity and do it best by forgiveness. Be a unifier!
Fr. Anthony Mpagi
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Readings of the Mass
LISTEN HEREto the Audio Recordings of the Readings of May 29th, 2022, Seventth Sunday of Easter.
SELECT HERE for the Readings of May 29th, 2022, Seventh Sunday of Easter..
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