7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 23, 2014
Two years ago an excellent film came out called October Baby. This movie focused on the struggles of a young woman, Hannah, who has had unexplained psychological and physical problems for all of her life. Hannah’s struggles come to a climax when she collapses during a college play. This painful event begins a search for the root of her problems.
Brother David Spencer was ordained a priest of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy recently. Check out our video!
Hannah discovers that she is the lone survivor of a failed abortion. Her twin brother died shortly after birth. Hannah was abandoned by her mother, but adopted by a loving family. Despite the affections and support of her step-parents, she still suffers many scars from the traumatic event.
Understanding the inconceivable
After discovering the painful truth, Hannah must go on a spiritual journey in search of herself and attempt to gain some understanding of the inconceivable. After finding her birth mother, Hannah confronts her with love and an invitation to talk. Unfortunately, this woman is not in a place to face the reality of what she has done. Hannah is once again rejected by her birth mother.
In her journey, Hannah is left with a choice: to hold onto the rejection and sin of her mother or to forgive. With the help of a priest and others, she chooses to walk the road of forgiveness. Hannah is not healed of all her troubles, but she is freed from many of the consequences of unforgiveness. Unforgiveness can be like an acid which destroys the inside and, eventually, the outside of a person.
Harbor no hatred
Jesus our Lord and Savior wishes to save us from the caustic effects of an unforgiving heart. With his coming as man, Christ points the way to freedom for all of us. He is the fulfillment of the whole Law and the prophets. No longer is it acceptable to “love your neighbors and hate your enemy.” We are commanded by the Lord to harbor no hatred for any person no matter what they have done or said.
When we hear these words they “cut to the heart (Acts 2:37),” because every one of us at one time or another has harbored hatred or unforgiveness. The emotional pain, especially if we have been abused, is very strong. It often feels as though forgiveness is impossible. Yet we know deep down that it is eating us up. We need freedom and this only comes only with the Blood of Christ.
Ask for the desire
Jesus’ forgiveness of us has merited grace to forgive others. We cannot forgive without God’s grace!! Forgiveness is a process, which we must engage. The first step could be to ask the Lord for the desire to forgive. Then, to pray for the other. We should try to pray for a month for those who have hurt us and watch how our perspective changes. We will begin to see them as Hannah saw her mom; a scared and weak person who made a terrible mistake. Often we will become aware of how these individuals suffered extreme abuse and pain from others which have left lasting scars.
No, sin is never to be excused or justified. However, we can merely place it before the only just judge, Jesus Christ. Let us “not be overcome by evil but instead overcome evil with the power of good (Romans 12:21).” Jesus is our example as he endured the cross and still forgave all those who sin. We must do the same if we want to be truly free and truly healthy. Peace comes not from holding on, but letting go. Letting God be the judge, and forgiving as we have been forgiven.