April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
EDITORIAL

Stand firm and forgive

Anger, grief and shock are yet in the air of early springtime. Strong emotions have been washing across the surface of our waters. Racked and roiled by recession and political tumult in Washington and Albany alike, many of us have felt battered, wronged and hurt.

Judging from the public mood, many feel betrayed - betrayed by employers, politicians, Wall Street. The American dream looks more like a once-promising mist evaporating in the sun's harsh glare. For some believers, God seems to have turned away.

In our hot temper and abandonment, we lash out.

It's convenient to blame public figures or noticeable groups - politicians, rich people, immigrants, executives, liberals, conservatives, Church leaders. Even when they are responsible for problems, it is easy to overdo and hold them accountable for too much. Or if they are fully to blame for something, we can be terribly penurious and absolute in our judgment.

As usual, Christ offers the prescription for using our head and heart in such situation.

Last week, depending on which reading your parish used, many of us heard the story from John of the woman who was about to be stoned by a crowd for her adultery. Jesus invites those without sin to cast the first stone, and they all leave chastened.

"Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,

'Woman, where are they?

Has no one condemned you?'

She replied, 'No one, sir.'

Then Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.'"

He does not condone her sin; indeed, Jesus tells her to cease such immoral actions. At the same time, He acts with love and forgiveness. Certainly, we can aspire to the same.

God gave us our brains for a reason: to evaluate, decide and act. So we are to speak out on social, political and economic issues. We have a big faith, full of teachings and doctrine and theology that we are to apply to life.

God also gave us our hearts and souls to live in the example of Christ. Even when others are wrong and we have been harmed personally, we can act as Christians.

Anger is a desire for revenge, our catechism tells us. We are liable to judgment for our anger, which is contrary to charity. Christ tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

That's easy to say, of course. Loving our enemies may take some time.

In the meantime, there are smaller steps to take. Many people have struggled through the recession and personal trials with grace and spirit. Even if they were wronged, in a layoff or the loss of home or savings, many have found in their cross a blessing; in their Lent, an Easter coming.

A friend told me recently of his harrowing experience, professionally and financially - and thus personally - over the past year or so. There were people he could blame. But he knew such a single-minded focus would poison his life and close off possibilities.

Instead, he decided, all that happened could be for a reason. In his circumstances, he found cause for spiritual growth. By calming his anger and fear, he became of possibilities that were hidden before.

In such ways we can open ourselves to God's love and forgiveness. That's always a good place to start to mend and heal.

(04/01/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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