'Tomorrow may be too late' to forgive

September 4, 2005 -- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. In what ways can you be an agent of reconciliation this week? 2. What are the areas of brokenness in your life? 3. Do you believe that tomorrow may be too late?

A key to the understanding of today's liturgy can be found in the Gospel acclamation: "God was in Christ, to reconcile the world to Himself; and the Good News of reconciliation He has entrusted to us."

All three readings deal with broken relationships and the need for healing. Jesus describes how we are to go about dealing with someone who has done us wrong. St. Paul, quoting other passages of Scripture, cites the immorality of adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting. And the prophet Ezekiel narrates how we are to respond to evil and guilt.

In other words, much reconciliation is needed in our personal and collective lives. Through sins of commission or omission we have hurt one another and stand in need of God's forgiveness. More, though we are often guilty of wrongdoing, we cannot allow this fact to stop us from being agents of reconciliation. All of us are commissioned to heal brokenness wherever it occurs.

Humpty Dumpty, as we all know, had a great fall. Well, all of us have a brokenness within that stands in need of healing. Be it greed or lust, envy or pride, anger or gluttony, there are seeds of destruction that often germinate and bear harmful fruit. If charity begins at home, reconciliation and healing do as well. Personal honesty demands that we gaze steadfastly into the mirror and name those attitudes, dispositions, and actions that injure others and ourselves. To be agents of reconciliation we must first of all strive to cooperate with the grace that brings us God's mercy and peace.

Then there is a brokenness within our families and local communities. Family strife and civil feuds are all too common. We need to respond as quickly as we can to divisive situations so that they are not allowed to grow. St. Peter Julian Eymard, founder of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, had as his motto: "Tomorrow may be too late!" What sage advice in dealing with the issue of reconciliation. We cannot wait until tomorrow to ask forgiveness nor to address others who are in need of forgiveness.

Dag Hammarskjold, former Secretary General of the United Nations, writes in his autobiographical work Markings: "Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is again made clean. The dream explains why we need to be forgiven, and why we must forgive. In the presence of God, nothing stands between Him and us - we are forgiven. But we cannot feel His presence if anything is allowed to stand between ourselves and others."

Much insight here. Our God is a God of love and mercy. Never does God withhold His forgiveness even if we are not disposed to receive it. Yet, because of a faulty disposition, we cannot experience that divine grace and thus begin to doubt the reality of reconciliation.

"Tomorrow may be too late!" Although we heard today's reading three years ago and, if we are still around, will hear them three years hence, we are challenged to feel the urgency of God's call to be agents of reconciliation now. Indeed, the honor of being entrusted with this great commission.

The refrain from our responsorial psalm drives home the point: "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." God speaks to us today through word and sacrament. May our hearts be open and receptive and responsive to the divine word.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor at Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)