God's Merciful Rule
high-stakes forgiveness
Announcements for September 12, 2020:
The weather for Sunday looks a little hard to predict. As of now, we'll plan on our regular offering of Masses, but I'll send a text/email update on Sunday to confirm. If you haven't been receiving these texts/emails, let me know.
Our weekend Masses are: Saturday 5:15pm in the church; Sunday at 7:30am and 9:00am in the church; Sunday at 9:00am at Walmart; and Sunday at 11:00am outside.
Please be in touch with me if you need anything at all, or if you'd like to share any questions or concerns.
Dear Saints,
Sign up for financial peace - our class begins this Sunday!
I can't recommend Dave Ramsey highly enough. In the few short years we've been running his course, our parishioners have paid down hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and have found financial freedom.
Our new Financial Peace University class begins Sunday, September 13. Check out this short video clip and join us to find financial peace!
We saw last week that prayer and forgiveness are the beating heart of the Church. Prayer and forgiveness are the lifeblood of the people Jesus has called and is equipping for his work.
In our Gospel passage this weekend, we hear the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. It's a masterfully composed story, given in response to Saint Peter's question about the demands of Jesus' heaven-to-earth mission.
I have no doubt that Peter thought himself excessively generous when he suggested he could forgive a fellow disciple as many as seven times. If that's what it took to see Jesus enthroned as Israel's king, then he'd muster the strength or humility or loyalty to do it.
What Peter doesn't yet grasp is that forgiveness isn't a task to be tackled for the sake of some other success. Forgiveness, rather, is itself the success of living faithfully to a God who is mercy. Forgiving love is the animating force of God's rule, which Jesus makes flesh and brings to bear in the world.
Jesus' response to Peter contains the biggest challenge and promise - and the most severe warning - in all of Scripture: We are to embody God's forgiving love all the way through and all the way to the end; and if we do not forgive, then we cannot be forgiven.
Peter is, perhaps, looking to hedge his bets. Jesus calls him - and us - to go all-in on God's merciful love: to receive it and to make it real for others.
The challenges of walking this way are serious and significant, but we take them on together. If you'd like any help at all, even if just a friendly ear, then let's chat.
I love you, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you very soon.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Check out this short video of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
A modern rendering of
the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Crucifixion, seen from the Cross
Jacques Joseph Tissot, ca.1890