In a Charlie Brown cartoon, little Linus, battling with a case of low-self-esteem asks Lucy, “Why are you always so eager to criticize me?” Lucy, looking very self-righteous, replies: “I just think I have a knack for seeing other people’s faults.” Linus turns indignant. “What about your own faults?” he asks. “I have a knack for overlooking them,” Lucy says. We hear today about apostles willingly overlooking their own faults.
The disciples were like that. When they heard something they were not comfortable or did not understand, they shut down.
Pope Francis continues to challenge us by confronting us with the words of Jesus. Mercy, peace, and reconciliation as opposed to war and hatred are always key themes. “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty,” he said, “rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” In a recent homily he warned that besides wars that take place on the battlefield, that war can take place within our Christian communities, between us. “If you can’t forgive, you are not a Christian” he said. If you cannot forgive, you cannot receive the peace of the Lord.”
Our human mind has an amazing capacity to reject that which it does not want to see. The disciples become mirrors in which we see ourselves all too clearly. Their failures, their inability to understand typify the patterns of future generations of disciples like us who are also slow to understand the radical message of Jesus.
When we don’t understand the words and message of Jesus --- may we be ready and willing to ask the Lord to open our hearts to receive his word. To ask him: what are you trying to say to me now, today? What must I do today to respond to someone or something as you would?
God bless! Have a wonderful week!