WE COME to fresh awareness of deepest reality. The Scripture lessons sound as if written specially for us. We are awakened. We are challenged. The words are arrows of God piercing the deepest places of the heart. In this week of harvest, the message of Ecclesiasticus will banish discordant noises that deafen us to the Truth. "Resentment and anger! These are foul things and both are found in the sinner . . . If one harbours anger against another can one demand compassion from the Lord? Remember the last things and banish hatred . . .!
St Benedict calls to us across the centuries to be still, to read the Living Word in Faith, and to ponder in the deep places of the heart. "Listen," he tells us as he reminds us of Christ's appeal. All those with ears to hear, let them hear We are asked to accept the Living Word and to allow the good seed to take root. In fertile silence, we shall find strength and peace and healing of the heart.
St Paul reminds us of a challenge we most need to remember, and yet so often forget. "The life and death of each of us has influence on others". This is a wondrous truth, from which there is no escape. We have returned from holidays. Clean air, bracing winds, good food, and inspiring scenery with laughter and love of friends will have restored us in body and in mind. The flowers and trees did not need to shout aloud to bring us joy. They made the world more beautiful simply by being there. As to St Francis, so to us, they spoke of God, as all Truth and Beauty must ever do. What now of us?
We are led to Christ, the divine Teacher and Shepherd of our souls. He confirms for us the ancient Scripture and urges on us, by word and example, the lessons of forgiveness and of peace. Exuberant Peter, in an outburst of good will, asks the Master if pardon should be granted seven times. Christ may have smiled: "Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy times seven times . . .!"
We are given the ever relevant parable of the two servants and the generous master. One servant owed a vast sum of gold. As he wept and pleaded, he was fully absolved. A fellow servant owed to him a paltry sum. He ignored tears and entreaties: "Pay me what you owe. . . and now!" was his cruel response.
Such evil and such ingratitude must astound us. But as we reflect, and as we pray, do we find the small word "as" a stumbling block in the Lord's prayer? "Forgive me my sins as I forgive"? Does my way of life give the lie to my daily prayer?
A vulnerable prayer comes to us across the centuries: "By the words of the Holy Gospel may our sins be blotted out". We say a deep AMEN.