Wellspring of Scripture

 

Year B: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16

 

In proclaiming Jesus as the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, there is a danger that we could come to see him as remote and aloof. This reading strives to redress that by reminding the readers - and us - that Jesus was subject to temptation and fully shared the weaknesses of humanity. He did not sin - but he understands those who do.

There is a story in the writing of Julian of Norwich in which she speaks of the relationship between ourselves and Christ as that  of a servant and a loving master. She describes an incident in which the servant is sent on a task in the course of which, the servant falls and damages the master’s property. Understandably, the servant is afraid and full of guilt - but, Julian says that the master understood the desire of the servant to do well and looks on the failure with pity and not with blame.

 

So it is in our failures. Christ can see the disposition of our hearts and where that is directed to him, that far outweighs any sin or failing on our part.

 

This is not to be complacent but gives us hope and confidence as we journey towards the throne of grace. Jesus walked the path of humanity - he saw those who deliberately turned away - but saw many more who followed. He was those try and fail to be good disciples. He did not condemn Peter for denying him - nor did he condemn Judas for betraying him. He understood the workings of people’s hearts and minds - and had compassion where the desire for perfection encountered the realities of human nature.

 

This compassion extends to us too. It requires that we trust that we are forgiven however many times we fall - as long as we get up - set our sights again on the Kingdom - and carry on. We are not called to dwell on our failures - any more than we are required to dwell on our successes! We are to travel light - leaving behind the burdens of guilt imposed by our human weaknesses, confident in a Christ who looks on our inevitable lapses with pity and not with blame.


 

What does it mean for me?

 

Waterlily

How can you develop confidence in a Christ who loves you and does not blame you for failure?

How could you reassure others who cannot believe in such forgiveness?

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