28 February 2019
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
“Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin.” (Sir 5) There is an ugly temptation on the part of the those who hear of the Lord’s forgiveness, as we heard so clearly proclaimed on Sunday, not only to think that that does not mean we need to forgive others, but also to think that that means we ourselves have full license to presume to sin on the pretext that God needs to forgive us. God our Father is indeed merciful, but is the presumptuous heart actually open to receiving God’s forgiveness and the relationship with Him which necessarily comes with His mercy?
“Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away […] the way of the wicked vanishes.” (Ps 1) The foundation of our spiritual life is never more surely proven to be mere sand than when we are filled with presumption. The Lord owes us nothing. And although He wishes to give us everything, we must be open to receiving it. The more we presume upon ourselves and our supposed entitlements from the Almighty, the more ephemeral we become. Lightweights because of our vanity, we cannot sink into the depths of the mercies of God, and rather, we are tossed about by the winds of the latest product, political intrigue, or popular outlet for excess. In a flash, such ways vanish and pass away. If our identity is wrapped up in them, what have we made the foundation of our hope? Where are our steps, where do we stand, with whom do we sit? Is there any room in such ways and such company for the law of the Lord?
What are we to do if we discover something is leading us to active presumption, active neglect of the ways of the Lord? What should we do when we can tell that we are becoming vain and puffed up? Pop the bubble. It is better to enter into the life God promises us in His Kingdom maimed, crippled and with one eye than to put all our members at the service of that which wicked and foolish pride. May the Lord show us the wisdom of loving Him above all things, and of getting rid of what closes our hearts to the One who gives us life.