Friday, February 21, 2024
Feast of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor
“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744)
Dear friend,
Welcome to week eight of BMW, Be My Witnesses. We are continuing to be witnesses to Jesus in very concrete ways with this last episode of our first cycle of formation. With these small steps we are becoming missionary disciples of the Lord. For this session let us reflect on one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Today:
Mission: Bearing Wrongs Patiently
The very heart of Saint Luke’s Gospel is chapter nine, verse 51: “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” Jesus knew what he would be facing. On his first stop, he encountered opposition.
James and John were willing to call down fire from heaven to consume these opponents, but Jesus rebuked them (9:54-55). We are to bear wrongs patiently. The greatest example of this is found in Jesus’ own words as he was dying in the cross: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Life is not fair. How often have we heard this from our parents. We may be the object of gossip which may be completely false or have a small truth in it blown out of proportion. Friends may not follow through on their promises to us or even break a confidence. There are many occasions which will test our patience. We often will want to retaliate or treat others as they have treated us. Here we might be ascribing to and “eye for an eye.” And we all know what Jesus said about that.
He told us, in his famous Sermon the Mount, to turn the cheek, to hand over our cloak, to go the extra mile, to turn our back on no-one (Matthew 5:38-42). This does not mean that we are saying we somehow deserve the ill-treatment. After all, Jesus did not deserve the cross.
No, Jesus wanted us to counter any evil with good, with love. He knew and we must believe that God can draw good from anything. In spite of our own faults and weaknesses, we can be a means of advancing God’s kingdom: “For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace” (I Peter 2:19).
Patience is the key. This is not a patience which waits for God to zap those who oppose us. Rather it is a patience for God to work his wonders through us. As Jesus said, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27). And the virtue of patience is never the easiest for us to embrace.
For this week’s challenge, reread this verse from Saint Luke (6:27) and seek an occasion to love, to do good, to bless, to pray as a response to some perceived wrong.
Until next week, may God Bless you.
I am sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Below is a video version of this week’s Be My Witnesses. Please do share with family and friends. Thank you. God bless you.
