We enter our third week of reflection on the Bread of Life discourse and so far we have considered the themes of food and faith in relationship to the Eucharist. Today we have a third dimension of the Eucharist: forgiveness. Forgiveness ties in with the dimensions of Food and Faith in a number of ways. For example, it’s hard to enjoy a shared meal when you are at odds with the person across the table. A common meal often involves letting go of irritations, hurts, and even grievances. Forgiveness also requires a certain amount of faith.
A relationship of faith means a willingness to admit failures, ask pardon, and make amends. Even faith in God requires a kind of "forgiveness." I put forgiveness in quotes because God is all good, all wise and all loving. He is not going to offend us or let us down. Nevertheless, when we pray to God we should honestly express our disappointments, frustrations, and moments of confusion as we try to understand His plan. We see these elements in today's reading with the prophet Elijah. He is at the end of his rope. Queen Jezebel has been trying to kill him for doing the will of God and he has had no rest. He wants to crawl into a hole and die. But he prays, or at least he complains to the Lord, then takes a nap. An angel wakes him, tells him to get up, eat something and start walking across the desert: one foot after another, for forty days until he arrives at Horeb, the holy mountain. Which is a surprisingly good example for us. When we are down, overwhelmed, and simply don’t know what to do, we would do well to express our anger, sadness, hurt, or whatever negative feelings we are experiencing honestly to God in our prayer; he already knows the confusion in our heart. After praying, be like Elijah: rest, eat God’s food here in the Eucharist and then get going. One step at a time, one foot after the other, each day a little closer to heaven and holiness. Above all else, trust God!
Faith and forgiveness go hand in hand. We trust God and we know that he never tires of forgiving. As Pope Francis has often said: "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy." If you are going to remember one sentence, remember that one: "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy." Isn’t this so true in regards to the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Every single parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis offers the sacrament of God’s mercy, at least once a week. Yet, how often do we take advantage of this divine gift? There are about 1600 people registered in this parish and most of them are old enough to benefit from reconciliation. Yet I only average about 4 confessions a week, around 250 a year. By my rough math, that means about 1000 parishioners are mercy-deprived and trying to walk the road to God’s mountain with the crushing burden of sin and guilt.
The awareness of our sins and the source of all forgiveness is found throughout the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The more fully we realize our sinfulness and our need for God’s mercy, the more deeply we appreciate the incredible gift of the Eucharist. From the very beginning of Mass, we are mindful of our sins and weakness as we start with the penitential rite and say with one voice, “Lord have mercy!” At the end of the reading of the gospel, as the priest or deacon kisses the book, he whispers, “through the words of the gospel, may our sins be wiped away.” If you listen closely to the Eucharistic Prayer, you will hear the priest, acting in the person of Christ, constantly asking for the Father’s mercy on his children. In a few moments, I will say, "This is the chalice of my blood...poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins." Right before we receive Holy Communion, we will all say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Here we have more than mere words - an action takes place: Jesus by his blood, in the Holy Spirit, takes you with all your sins to the Father. What sins are we talking about?
St. Paul puts it bluntly: bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, reviling and malice. Have you experienced any of these sins in the last year or two? Maybe the last week or two? St. Paul reminds us that we are called to “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” This is how we become imitators of God. First receiving forgiveness for our many sins in the Eucharist and in the sacrament of confession and then extending that same gift of mercy to others.
During Mass today, take your sins to the cross. While you are here, you are transported to Christ’s passion and death on that Good Friday. You are kneeling at the foot of the cross together with Mary, John and all the saints and angels. St. Paul speaks about the sacrificial offering of Jesus. In the Mass we join ourselves to that offering.
Experience the peace that comes from joining yourself - just as you are with all your disappointments, your questions, yes, even your sins and weaknesses - to the self-offering of Jesus, the True Bread of Life. Make a promise with God and yourself to take advantage of his mercy in the sacrament of confession. Be forgiven so you can go out and forgive others. Freely. Generously. Without exception. Amen.
