On this day when many in the world are weeping at the news of yet another senseless tragedy, the Church gives us a very simple – but often troubling – Gospel from Matthew about the need to forgive the sins of others.
“Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well …”
Matthew 5:38-42
One day after the United States suffered its biggest mass murder in history – and not too far removed from similar tragedies in Europe and the Middle East – how can we be so eager to forgive?
We want justice, certainly. We want to put an end to these tragedies, or course. But as Christians, we are called not to seek revenge … we seek understanding of the individuals who carry out these crimes – be they Muslim, Christian or one without faith at all.
We may never put an end to such things. But we must never stop trying. And we must forgive. Lack of forgiveness does not hurt anyone but the one who cannot forgive.
St. Anthony of Padua, whose memorial we observe today on the Liturgical calendar, would no doubt find ample scriptural reasons and the powerful words to convey this difficult message of forgiveness.
For Anthony, a humble soul whose understanding of theology and the Bible made him a preacher to all preachers within the Franciscan order, the answers to life’s most difficult questions were rooted in the inspired word of God. His sermons were known for being filled with citations that helped break down the complex with the simplicity of scripture.
In today’s Gospel, Christ leaves no doubt that forgiveness is not an option. In fact, if you follow Him, you must not only “turn the other cheek” but also give more than what was asked (or stolen).
As he hung on the cross, his suffering and crucifixion nearing its painful end, what words did He utter?
St. Anthony lived in a time when there were no printing presses. For years he carried his own book of Scripture, embellished with his own handwriting that helped him as he preached to the most hardened of hearts in whatever community he happened to be in.
At one point, this book was stolen by a young novice who had decided to leave the monastery. In response, St. Anthony resisted the urge to hunt this guy down, beat him up and take his book back.
That’s something I might have done, minus the beating up part.
Instead, Anthony turned to prayer and asked God to find a way to have his book returned. And so it happened that the novice returned the book – and returned, himself, to the monastery.
Anthony prayed for his lost item … which is why many of us today ask for St. Anthony’s help in finding our own lost things.
If you have lost your ability to forgive – and one can certainly understand that as we live in such troubling times – perhaps we can turn to St. Anthony not only as an example, but also as a helper. Let us ask him to help us find the strength to forgive those who seek to harm us.
And let us all join the families of the victims in Orlando and across the globe in prayer and in mourning of the lives lost for no good reason.
May God, through the intercession of Mary and St. Anthony, help us.
