Despite your best efforts, it's impossible not to be hurt or
disappointed, at some point in our life, by loved ones or societal norms we
fail to see eye to eye on. Often the
most challenging aspect of getting hurt is letting go of any lingering
resentment after we forgive the other. Sometimes,
we may find that we're holding a grudge — even if we're doing so
unintentionally.
Knowing ourselves, in light of scripture, might give us a
clue that we're holding a grudge, even if we don't think we are, and can help us
figure out a way to move forward.
When we're holding a grudge, all sorts of things can cause us
to get frustrated. We can find ourselves
taking advantage of any opportunity to let our voice to be heard, sometimes
inappropriately. Meaning, sometimes we
might get upset over things that really aren't related to what we're actually
upset about.[1]
The author of the Book of Jonah insists revealing on Jonah’s
dislike of the Ninevites and his refusal to obey God for fear that the Ninevites
might be more receptive to God’s message and call to repentance than his own
people. Jonah did his best to avoid delivering
God’s message. The consequence for his
disobedience was a God sized timeout, in the belly of a whale. God always wins. We have a God of second chances. He gives Jonah a second chance and He continually
offers us second chances. Jonah’s
behavior gives us a real glimpse of our own weaknesses, Jonah didn’t want to give
the people of Nineveh a second chance—even though God had given him one. In this light, I had to ask myself, how am I
at giving second chances. How are you doing
on giving others a second chance?
We all have our blind spots: We develop the habit of excusing
our own mistakes and struggles, yet we often fall short of doing the same for
someone else. Mercy is the issue. We struggle to follow in the Master’s example.
Mercy and compassion require a forgiving
heart that lets go of resentment, that lets go of the lingering grudge. Like Jonah, we are challenged to see beyond
the sometimes-petty mistakes that offend us. Taking a step back and reflecting on the big
picture, recognizes our hurt is real and our struggle to get beyond it. Could it be that God is doing something good when
we endure these difficulties?
Today’s Gospel helps us realize that Jesus expects us to pay
attention to the light within us. This
light strengthens our resolve to be merciful and faithful as we attempt to live
the Gospel values of forgiveness and mercy. Being a light-bearer means taking that hard
look ourselves, especially when we hold tight to an old grudge.[2]
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