By Fr Antony Christy, SDB –
THE WORD IN LENT – Tuesday, Third week
March 05, 2024 – Daniel 3: 25,34-43; Matthew 18: 21-35
Through the desert, God leads us to freedom, to liberty that can find its way into our lives, only when we make space for it. Yesterday, we reflected upon some traits that would prevent us from progressing towards where God leads us – that we would not be led unless we allowed ourselves to be led. Today the Word speaks to us of one sign that we allow ourselves to be led by God: a contrite, humbled heart.
It does not take perfection or sanctity to be identified as God’s children; otherwise, it would be impossible for any of us to fall into that category. What matters is a humble, contrite heart. The first reading today explains to us that a humbled contrite heart is as acceptable as a holocaust of rams and bullocks, of a thousand fattened lambs. Simply put, it is the most loved disposition of the Lord and the ideal identity of a child of God.
How do we understand a humbled, contrite heart? As a heart of that person who puts himself or herself down before others, treats oneself without respect, and despises oneself before God and others? Is that what God appreciates in us? How can that be? Does not God love us above all? Has not God invested us with a dignity that belongs to Godself—the image and likeness in which God has created us! If so, would God want that we belittle ourselves, and treat ourselves without dignity?
The quality of a humbled, contrite heart is knowing and accepting oneself with all sincerity, without any pretence. Knowing how unworthy I am before God and accepting all that I am and all that I have as a gratuitous gift from God. It is, appreciating every bit of love that I experience from God beginning with all the blessings, and never forgetting the abundance of mercy with which the Lord has always forgiven me for all my unworthiness, weaknesses, and sinfulness!
The integrity of this humbled contrite heart can be seen only in extending the same acceptance and forgiveness to the other, my brother and my sister. If I am mindful of my ‘forgiven’ness, I will certainly forgive. If I am not ready to forgive, Jesus says, I am not humble or sincere enough to accept that I have been forgiven. My haughtiness and pride block my heart, and that haughty, proud heart cannot be led by God! It is only a humbled, contrite heart that God leads!
Fr Antony Christy is a Salesian Priest from 2005, who has a Masters in Philosophy (specialisation in Religion) and a Masters in Theology (Specialisation in Catechetics). He holds doctoral research in Theology at Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Walking with the Young towards a World of Peace and Dialogue is the passion that fires him on.