1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23;
Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 15:25-49;
Luke 6:27-38
Homily
The story of the experience of Fr. Thaddaeus (Fr. Tad), who was treated unfairly, and had difficulty forgiving those who wronged him. He was extremely upset, and had only harsh words for his opponents. All because he was a man, was a Catholic priest, and was black! Ku waakuba ori iwe nk’Omunaasi: if your tutor would give you few marks, or even fail you because you happen to be a Mukiga, or a Munyarwanda…Would you forgive him/her or love that person? There are some things we don’t choose in life: our gender, our race, our parents, the place or country K of origin; our looks (beautiful/handsome or ugly). Even for some of us who were or are baptized as infants, we don’t choose our religion…Very few things on our lives, do we have power or control. So, Fr. Tad was being treated unfairly for things over which he had no control. No wonder he had hard time forgiving… However, after the experience of Fr. Tad, I almost concluded that forgiveness and love for those who do us wrong is not possible. But then I remembered the example of Pope John Paul II, now Saint. Manya twaaba tutabangirwe maani ga Mukama, nitutwaaza nk’ebinyamaishwa hamwe n’ebinyonyi David, whose story of forgiving and sparing Saul’s life, that we read in the First Reading was inspired by God. David was God-fearing. David had the experience of God’s forgiveness…Ai Mukama Nyakubaho, ku wakweeta aha bicumuro byaitu, nooha owakuhonokaho. Jesus, did not just teach us, or give us an oral lesson on forgiveness and loving our enemies; he did it.. The Word of God today invites us to a special calling, namely to learn, embrace and to put into practice the Commandment of love, including love for our enemies, and also invites us to the virtue of forgiveness. Loving the way Jesus loves, and the call to forgive are not of human origin; both of them are of divine origin. Today, think of a person you have difficulty forgiving or loving. Personally, before I go to bed every night, I make sure I don’t sleep with anger on my head…Anger and lack of forgiveness make bad bed fellows… Think of the Our Father prayer…
Fr. Bonaventure Turyomumazima