Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (12/16/2007)

Dear People of God,

"Jesus said…..‘Go and tell John what you hear and see…’" (Mt 11:4)

Jesus’ greatest homily wasn’t what he said as much as what he did. The reason Jesus’ words were so powerful is because his actions gave expression to his words. Jesus’ forgiveness and love, expressed in healing people in mind and body, was witnessed by those who knew him.

We are called to be the living word of God; walking witness to the presence of God. The Lord’s forgiveness and love is what we are to make real in every action of our day. That’s a challenge!

In this season as we celebrate God’s coming among us in Jesus Christ, for the sole reason of reconciling us to God’s self, we must ask if we are willing to reconcile as Jesus reconciled. The scriptures tell of the joy over one lost sheep being brought home and how God doesn’t want anyone to be lost. Is that reality reflected in our culture and in our hearts?

It is hard to forgive, especially those we despise. I have a hard time when it comes to pedophiles, especially the priests who have caused irrevocable harm to people’s lives. I have met some who belong in jail the rest of their lives and others, who don’t. What is hard for me is to realize Jesus came for them as well, and that I may need to be the vehicle through which he works.

By forgiving here I don’t mean justifying. There is no justification, but how do we treat the sinner? With vengeance, which is the Lord’s alone, or as Christ would treat them? This is more important as we deal with people on death row. I think of a young woman in Texas who experienced a genuine conversion while on death row and really came to know the Lord, was remorseful for her sin and asked for forgiveness. She was executed by a society that claims to be Judeo-Christian based. As we have judged her, will she be there to judge us when we meet the Lord?

Many people are astounded when they hear of how the Amish and the Indian cultures among us can forgive those who have hurt someone grievously in their communities. It is a powerful witness to their beliefs and should call us to question how we deal with the sinner. Praying for the Advent-of-God in this season is also praying to forgive, like Christ, in word and deed

As we pray for the Advent of God in our hearts and in our world, let us pray that we may be Christ’s homily to the world today. Let us learn to forgive ourselves, those we love and those we despise. Then the lion will lay down with the lamb, and the rough ways will be made smooth.

God bless you in his love, Fr. Leo