We All Make Mistakes

Oct. 1: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today is all about forgiveness, of ourselves and of others. The Gospel demonstrates that we can often recognize a change in someone’s heart, yet the first reading tells us that we don’t always accept that. And thus Paul instructs us to follow Jesus’ example, especially when it comes to forgiveness.

Reading 1

Ez 18:25-28

Thus says the LORD: You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!"

Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

A major problem with a lot of modern belief systems is, while they maintain some sense of right and wrong (however they define it), they any mechanism for reconciliation. Once you’ve violated certain norms of speech or behavior, you’re expelled from the subculture and there’s no returning to the fold.

In fact, some people like to ridicule the idea of forgiveness—

Without forgiveness, there’s no hope for repentance. Who’s going to have a change of heart if the people you’ve offended won’t take you back?

And look, I get it. There are lots of people I don’t want to forgive; you probably feel the same way about someone.

But that’s not the Lord’s way, and we should be thankful for that.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

We all make mistakes in our youth, but we grow and mature. We certainly wouldn’t want people to judge us based on our behavior in high school.

But how do we mature and grow? By following God’s path. And we’re not going to find it unless we ask Him to teach and guide us. When we do that, God is willing to forgive.

Reading 2

Phil 2:1-11

Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.

Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It takes a certain amount of humility to admit when we’ve done something wrong and need forgiveness. It’s something else entirely to forgive someone else. Fr. Mike explains that forgiveness means releasing someone from a debt they owe you.

We owe God infinitely, not only because he created us, but because of every sin against Him. Yet Jesus, God the Son, has chosen not to collect that debt. That’s a level of humility few, of any people, can truly and completely attain.

Yet Paul is asking us to try.

Alleluia

Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus has great confidence in us, saying that we will follow Him. Let’s justify that confidence as best we can.

Gospel

Mt 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went.

The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?"

They answered, "The first."

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."

Sometimes our mouth moves faster than the rest of our bodies. But with some reflection, we realize what we said isn’t want we mean. Thankfully, we often have time to correct our course, and do right even when we said wrong.

It’s really obvious in the case of these sons and their chores. In fact, we’ve probably all done this exact thing in our youth. But it applies to our everyday life, too. We say to God, “I don’t want to do this. Please take this work from me today.” And yet, we do it anyway. We persevere.

It’s almost always, to some degree or another, because we’re following Christ’s example. After all, didn’t He ask the Father to not be crucified?

Even when we are reluctant to do the right thing, we have time to make it up, to correct our course. And even when that time has passed, we can ask for forgiveness, and help in doing better next time.

At mass, and sometimes nightly prayer, we say that we “have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.” That’s why we need forgiveness, so when we’ve sinned in our words, we can act rightly in the future.