A Living God In Your Midst

August 16, 2007

Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know I am with you. Joshua 3:7

At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.” Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. Matthew 18:26-27

Piety

Lord, give us the resolve to live up to those promises we make to others in the same way you lived up to the promise You made to lead Israel out of slavery and into the land of milk and honey. Help us to recognize what gets in the way of proper relationships we need with you and with each other. Come into our midst and remove these obstacles. Help us to get our priorities in line and to treat each other as you would treat us and as we would want them to treat us. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/081607.shtml

Crossing the Jordan -- a symbolic act at the end of a journey and the fulfillment of a promise at the beginning of a new journey. Finally. Crossing the Jordan meant the nation of Israel would pass into the Promised Land. Relationships it had with each other and with the Lord that were long ago ruptured would be mended as the promise is fulfilled.

Like the Israelites, Jesus also crosses the Jordan River in today’s reading after teaching a classic biblical lesson about forgiveness. He wants us to learn that we have to repair relationships that we have ruptured or relationships where we have allowed other priorities beyond love get in the way.

God led the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into freedom in the Promised Land. Now that the people enjoy freedom, Jesus points out their responsibilities to forgive their neighbor in the same way God provides for His children.

Not only does crossing the Jordan fulfill God’s promise of mercy. God also literally forgives our trespasses as we forgive others. This is not a one-way relationship. Once God’s promises are fulfilled, the Lord reveals our responsibilities to our neighbors. Now, the duty falls upon us to fulfill those promises to our neighbors.

Nothing can stand in the way of our relationship with a God who wants to be in our midst. God finds us in slavery and promises to free us from what entraps us. God delivers on his promise and then expects us to do the same for others.

Action

Unilateral forgiveness. It does not matter what the offense. We are asked to turn the other cheek. Unconditionally. Not after the offending party has forgiven us. The Lord acts and He expects us to take the initiative.

What obstacles do you want to remove from some of your relationships? Do money, possessions, selfishness or other things get in the way?

God promises to show you the way to overcome these obstacles.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye. Luke 6:41-42

Take inventory of your wooden beams. Remove one and use it to build a bridge to someone from whom you have been remote or distant.