However, Jesus’ teaching warns against usurping the definitive judgment of God, who alone sees the heart. Jesus commands us to be compassionate, to be merciful. He reminded us that God our Father is compassionate. It means that God’s attitudes must become ours. Our attitude towards others should flow from God’s attitude toward us.
It will be very difficult if we do not try to place ourselves in the shoes of others. How can we do Jesus’s work if we cannot sure care mercy to so many souls who are in need of Jesus’ love and mercy? Aren’t we called to be living witnesses of His mercy and love? It is our and duty and responsibility as Christians to be living images of Jesus.
Hence, we are to take the path of virtue. Every sinner wants to experience God’s forgiveness. As followers of Jesus, it is our obligation and duty to pardon and forgive. Jesus said: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
Our pardon must be so generously given to anyone who has hurt us. We are to be twice as loving as the other was hateful, twice as trusting as the other was suspicious.
The Lenten spirit calls for self-restraint. We are called to reduce the aggressiveness of our everyday responses.
The Lenten spirit calls for a surrender of our spirit to God. We recognize our sins and our shortfall and admit to God that “we have departed from your commandments and laws.”
Like Daniel let us recognize when we are “shamefaced” as such could lead to our purification and transformation.
May we never forget that “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness”.
Have a wonderful Week
