James Hahn's Blog

Based on John 6:30-35

If I wasn’t in the same boat as these sinners following Jesus I would probably be laughing right in their face. I often wonder how Jesus kept from rolling on the grass laughing at what some people do.

Today we hear the crowd ask Him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?…”

Is this not the same crowd who in verse 2 we are told – “followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.”?

Are these not the same people who in verse 14 “when they saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”?

Yet still they seek a sign. However, they are not seeking a sign so that they might believe, they are wanting to be fed. Jesus worked a “sign” with the loaves and the fishes and now they want Him to do it again. Wisely, Jesus is using their bellies to get to their hearts; He is using earthly things to move them, and us, closer to Heavenly realities.

I often imagine myself being in the crowd of people following Jesus. This section of the chapter, especially verse 25, always makes me laugh. Jesus knows they are following Him seeking more bread but they act like this meeting is simply coincidence. “Rabbi, when did you get here” in my mind is like saying, “whoa, Jesus, what a coincidence all 5000 of us running into you here on the other side of the sea. We were coming over here for…um…well, bread, actually…got any?“

I certainly cannot look down on those people. I too have a short memory. I too often forget the many miracles God has worked in my life. When I want something from God I cry out, putting Him to the test – Do you love me? Show me a Sign! I forget about my conversion or think that it was my own doing or that it was going to happen naturally anyway. I forget about the perfectly arranged events that led me to meeting my wife.  I quickly forget how generously God has provided for our family over the years.

My desires for signs, like those people in the Gospel, are often fleshly desires. I want to feel a certain way, again. Like them I want to experience that “high” of witnessing a miracle and I don’t want that high to end. Yet, if I am observant, patient, and open, Jesus can use that base desire to lead me to higher things. He can turn my hunger for good bread into a hunger for the Bread From Heaven. He can turn my desire for earthly things into a desire for Heavenly things.

FROM THE SAINTS – “Stoics, ancient and modern, were proud of concealing their tears. He never concealed His tears; He showed them plainly on His open face at any daily sight, such as the far sight of His native city. Yet He concealed something. Solemn supermen and imperial diplomatists are proud of restraining their anger. He never restrained His anger. He flung furniture down the front steps of the Temple, and asked men how they expected to escape the damnation of Hell. Yet He restrained something. I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His mirth.” – G. K. Chesterton – Orthodoxy

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Gifts for Mother’s Day and First Communion

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Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 10th is Mother’s Day this year! Here are a few items that mom has been looking for and asking about….

A handcrafted cord-knot rosary! These beautiful, durable, knotted rosaries are sure to make any momma smile. Consider a matching chaplet, keychain, or bracelet to go with it.

Available in 50 Colors!

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Beautiful meditations for praying the rosary.

Both books offer deep spiritual insights into living a faithful Cathoilc life.

Click on the images to learn more.

Rosary Meditations for Mother’s Day. These Joyful Mysteries of Mother’s Day were written especially for Mother’s Day and to celebrate all mothers. Free PDF Download.

First Holy Communion

Spring is also the time for First Communion. Here are some great gifts for your special First Communicant.

First Holy Communion Rosaries

These beautiful, durable, handcrafted cord-knot rosaries will last a life-time. They include a metal crucifix and First Communion medal attached with high-quality split-rings ensuring they’ll never become separated.

Available in 50 colors!

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A Visit to Church: A Picture Journey is a wonderful gift for any First Communicant.

The reader will learn about all the items used for Mass, their names, and more.

High quality images take the reader through the church as the priest prepares for Mass.

A Visit to Church: A Picture Journey

Perfect for bedtime stories, Sunday school, or nurturing a child’s growing faith. A heartwarming addition to any family’s collection.

Adults and children alike love this delightfully illustrated rhyming book that imagines how Jesus’ puppy may have been just like our own puppies. Includes space for personal puppy pictures, journaling page, prayers, and more. A great Catholic book for kids of all ages.

Did Jesus Have a Puppy?

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A Gift For You (and your friends if you share this post)

As a gift to my readers, I’m giving away one free handcrafted cord-knot rosary to each person. Choose from the 50 available colors, add it to your cart, use the code FreeRosary (not too creative there) and you’ll get one of my famous rosaries for free. You’ll only pay for shipping ($4.90)…(details continued below this gallery)…

Color: FallColor: Mardi GrasColor: Divine MercyColor: RazzleberryColor: Our Lady of GuadalupeHow to Get Your RosaryChoose one rosary from 50 available colors.Add it to your cart. Use the code: FreeRosary. (This link will auto populate the code)Checkout and pay for shipping.Why Free?

My goal with making and selling rosaries over the years has always been to spread devotion to the rosary and Our Lady. Purchases obviously help me keep the website up and well stocked in twine, so they are appreciated too.

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Please share this code (FreeRosary) or this post with friends!

While you are waiting on your Free Rosary, why not download and print Rosary Meditations to go with it, yeah, they’re free too. You might also consider joining our Affiliate & Reward Program to help us spread devotion (and earn yourself more free stuff).

Oh so fine print…Shipping: $4.90. One use per customer. US Residents Only. Not compatible with other discount codes. Cord-Knot Rosary with Twine Cross Only. Rosaries are shipped as quickly as I can make them but please be patient.

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John 20:11-18

I often try to read passages in Scripture as though I’m reading them for the first time.  Too often my mind is filled with the things I already know and so I skip over the words, skimming more than reading.  As I read today’s Gospel I found myself doing that once again.   Yeah, yeah, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, doesn’t recognize Jesus, mistakes Him for the gardener, etc., read it all before.

When I found that I was doing this I went back and read it slowly a couple of times.  I saw things that I’d never seen before.  Like Mary, my eyes were opened to the truth I had been blind to up to that point.

Mary had been with Jesus for some time.  She had a deep devotion to our Lord.  Scholars may argue about whether this Mary was the same one who poured out the precious nard or who had demons driven from her.  We aren’t told for sure but the actions speak louder than words.

If it was she who had the demons driven out we can certainly understand her wiping the feet of the master with her tears; tears of repentance, joy, peace, and love.  If it was she who loved so much after having been forgiven so much, we can certainly understand her taking the costly perfume and emptying out every last drop for the Lord who would soon empty every last drop of His blood out for her and us.  This devotion and self-giving of Mary Magdalene did not stop short of the cross, fear of death did not deter her from being close to the Lord of Life, even on Calvary.

Even after His death and before she understood the Resurrection, she longed to be close to Him.  She came to the tomb while it was still dark on the third day to be by her crucified Lord.  Seeing that the stone had been moved and no guards present she assumed the body had been stolen and ran to tell Peter.  Today we are told she returns again to the empty tomb weeping.  Not only is she weeping because Jesus has been crucified but now His body is missing, stolen sometime during the night!

Blinded by grief, suffering her own agony in this garden of tombs, she pays little attention to the angels sitting in the tomb of the Risen Lord.  They ask her, “Why are you weeping?“.  This wasn’t a question about her grief, it was a question about her faith.  She gives her child-like answer, “they have taken away my Lord, and I do no know where they have laid him.“

Turning to leave the tomb she sees the silhouette of a man against the bright morning sky.  The Voice asks, “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom do you seek?”  Her eyes are blurred with tears, the voices of the angry crowd still echo in her ears and she doesn’t recognize the Lord.  What is it that brings her out of her pain and misery?  What is it that makes that moment the pivotal moment of her life?  The Lord simply, softly, lovingly speaks her name, “Mary.“

With that, this woman with great love embraces Jesus with the intention of never letting Him out of her sight again.  She clings to Him with all of her being.  Her heart sings, her tears flow, joy unbounded explodes in the most passionate heart of this woman bound to Jesus by the unbreakable bonds of love.  He assures her that He will be around for some time, that He hasn’t yet gone to the Father.  He begs her to loosen her grip, have faith, and believe.

Today the Lord asks us, “Why are you weeping?”  Tell him!  Lord, I am weeping over war.  Lord, I am weeping over my family and their loss of faith.  Lord, I am weeping because my child is an addict.  Lord, I am weeping because my marriage is falling apart.  Lord, I am weeping because I have no money and no job.  Lord, I am weeping because….  Tell Him!  Weep, then listen.  Listen for His word, listen for Him to speak your name.  He will.  Trust.

Jesus wants us to have faith.  However, the gift of faith comes through opportunities to practice faith, to step out in faith.  Let us have the faith and probably more importantly, the perseverance of Mary Magdalene who would not allow even death to separate her from the Lord.  Let us never stop seeking Him even in the midst of the tombs and tears of our lives.  He will be there if we only have the eyes to see.

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Check out our beautiful gifts for First Holy Communion and Mother’s Day!

So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. – John 13:2-5

Dirty Roads – Dirty Feet

Today, in 2025 A.D., we don’t give much thought to these few sentences. The impact of the activity of Jesus is lost on us because a) We wear shoes everywhere. Many of us even have “inside shoes” and “outside shoes”. b) The Church’s liturgy (as popularly practiced) often misses or lessens the importance of this event (pro tip: it’s not simply Jesus giving and example of serving others).

Contrary to what we see in the movies, the roads in the time of Jesus weren’t all covered in perfectly placed cobblestones or silky, fine dust. If rains fell, the road became knee deep mud. During perfectly dry days the roads and paths were still littered with animal droppings and human fluids of all types.

We can easily imagine that the disciples’ sandals and feet were exposed to these elements daily as they traveled with Jesus. Jesus too must have had to contend with the nastiness of the paths and roads of the day.

Remember, John the Baptist said, “…the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This too gives us a clue as to the filthy nature of walking during the time of our Lord. We can easily imagine that John is referring to a situation in a home where the lowest servant had the unfortunate duty of removing and cleaning the sandal of his master while another servant, higher in rank, would wash the master’s feet. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, the proclaimer of the Gospel even from the womb, the Martyr for Marriage, says he isn’t even worthy to take that lowest servant’s place!

An Example of Humility

With these images in our mind, we should see both how Christ humbled Himself before His apostles and why Peter was so offended by the gesture! Here the Lord of the World who made the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead rise to life washing the filth and grime from His disciple’s feet. Knowing Peter the Impetuous, I would expect nothing less than both of his reactions – “You will never wash my feet.” and later “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”

Christ’s lesson here for His disciples and us is that we should never place ourselves above others. We should always seek to serve one another. If God made man performed the dirtiest, most disgusting service out of love for His followers, how can we deny doing the same for our brothers and sisters made in His image and likeness.

Jesus, Moses, and the Priesthood

Yet, the question remains, is this simply Jesus giving us an example of humility? If so, why now, hours before His cruel treatment and death? Why not at the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus? Mary gave a segue with the precious Nard. Why not in the Temple for all to see saying, “go and do likewise“? Why not in the house of Simon when He had his feet washed with tears? There is more here than meets the eye.

Peter gives us a clue when he asks Jesus to wash his hands, feet, and head. The answer lies again in seeing Jesus as the new Moses. 

Much of the second half of the book of Exodus concerns the creation of the Tabernacle, all that is in it, and the priests who will serve there. Chapter after chapter explains the size, shape, and make up of everything from the tent to the Ark and from the incense to the vestments. It is not until all is ready that we read:

Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there wash them with water. Exodus 40:12

    or even more striking

Bringing forward Aaron and his sons, Moses first washed them with water. Then he put the tunic on Aaron, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, and girded him with the ephod’s embroidered belt, fastening the ephod on him with it. Leviticus 8:6-7 (This is very similar to what the priest does when vesting for Mass!)

Under God’s direction, this is the final act of Moses in consecrating His priests. 

Today’s Gospel echoes these directions. Everything that could be done to this point by Jesus was complete: fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God. He, the True Tabernacle, The Word Made Flesh, The True Bread From Heaven, and The Royal Priest was consecrating His priesthood. Peter, James, John, and the others were not simply being washed, they were being ordained! They and their successors would enter into His priesthood!

During this Holy Thursday let us open ourselves in humble service to others, taking Jesus as our example. More importantly, let us recognize the Holy Priesthood that Jesus instituted on this night; a night that is different from all the rest. This night where Jesus as the new Moses leads His people through the Red Sea of His Passion, out of the Egypt of our Sin, and into the Promised Land of Resurrection and Eternal Life.

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Here are some resources you may find helpful as we move into this Holy Week.

Free Kindle Book

This week, Meditations on the Crucifix is FREE on Amazon Kindle. You need not have a Kindle device. You can download the Kindle App for free for you phone or computer.

This short but powerful meditation on a common Catholic sacramental is sure to give you inspiration as you look upon the Cross on Good Friday.

Also available in paperback.

Home Tenebrae Service

If your parish doesn’t offer a Tenebrae Service or if it’s not practical for your family to attend, you may try this simple version at home. Learn more about Tenebrae here and download the Free PDF guide with instructions and readings.

Good Friday Passion Story & Lunch

This is something that our children look forward to every year. It is a reading of the Passion narrative (abbreviated) and each food item has a symbolic reading associated with the reading. For example, Peter’s denial and the cock crowing – hard boiled egg, Judas’ 30 pieces of silver – Peppermint Patty, etc.

It’s an enjoyable way to read the Passion as a family, have a simple meal, and spend time together.

Learn more here and and download the readings and “shopping list”.

Reflections for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

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Last chance to get a FREE Rosary….

Based on John 8: 21-30

It seems as though snakes or serpents have gotten a bad rap throughout history, most especially in scripture.  Yet, maybe it is with good reason.  Out of all of God’s land animals it is probably the least like man.  It slithers on the ground without limbs.  It lays eggs and abandons the nest.  It depends on external sources for body heat.  They are very different than us and this may be the reason they have been so maligned.

In Genesis the very face of evil is on a serpent.  We must note that the use of the word serpent in this instance really does not denote a simple snake.  The image in the original language would convey to the reader the image of a large, dangerous, dragon-like creature.  This would also more readily explain Adam’s reluctance to protect the garden and his wife.

In today’s first reading we once again see the serpent.  In fact, this creature is shown as not only the inflictor of pain but as a punishment for the sins of God’s people, “..with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses” (Num 21:4-5).

What does God do when the people cry out for mercy?  He doesn’t demand sacrifice.  He doesn’t demand penance.  What does God do?  He had them make a bronze serpent, attach it to a pole, and place it in the midst of the people as a cure.  The very image of that thing which was a moment before the curse of the people, now becomes the cure.

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14).  Here Jesus does something fascinating that should not be lost on us.  He shows us that first of all, he is the new Moses who will intercede for God’s people.  He is the new Moses who is leading God’s people out of slavery, out of the desert, and into the Promised Land.

Secondly, He is showing us that He will take upon himself the very image of that which is causing our death: sin.  Here, Our Lord and Savior, in speaking of the desert serpent story, most closely associates himself with the serpent, with the cause of our death.  How can this be?  Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians,  gives the answer, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself taking the form of a slave and coming in human likeness; and found in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8).

God in His humility and mercy took upon Himself the venom of the ancient serpent.  He allowed Himself to be bitten for our offences.  He allowed Himself to be lifted up on the Cross so as to affect a cure for His people.  In one swift move at the Crucifixion, Jesus takes upon Himself sin in order to put sin to death; He becomes the new Moses in order to lead His people into the promised land of Heaven; and He becomes the eternal High Priest and sacrificial offering: offering Himself, the spotless Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

As today we draw ever closer to Good Friday, the day when the cross of our Salvation is lifted up, let us look upon the source of our salvation.  Let us look upon the Crucifix and see how the ancient venom was destroyed.  Let us look at the Holy Cross and see the death of sin and the beginning of a new and everlasting life.

From the Saints
“The two greatest banners that were ever unfurled were the uplifted serpent and the uplifted Savior.  And yet there was an infinite difference between them.  The theater of one was the desert, and the audience a few thousand Israelites; the theater of the other was the universe and the audience, the whole of mankind.  From the one came a bodily healing, soon to be undone again by death; from the other flowed soul-healing; unto life everlasting.” – Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (The Life of Christ)

For more meditations on the Crucifix take a look at this book by James M. Hahn – They Shall Look Upon Him Whom they have Pierced: Meditations on the Crucifix.

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There’s still time to get a Free Rosary and perhaps other items for Easter Gifts…

Based on Matthew 1:18-25 for the Solemnity of St. Joseph Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Many, many years ago (19 to be exact) I had a conversation with my oldest son, Anthony, who was five at the time. It still stands out in my mind all these years later and it continues to guide my interaction with my children today (although I do need constant reminders).

Anthony was rearranging ornaments on the Christmas tree and I simply said, “I love you Anthony.” 

He replied, “I love you too dad.” 

Then I said, “You know that I love you, right?” 

To which he replied, “Yes, I know you love me.” 

So my next question, the one I had been planning to ask, was launched, “How do you know that I love you?“

I was blown away by his answer, “Because you play with me.” 

A simple, honest answer but there was an almost insignificant pause and he added, “sometimes.“

My heart almost broke, I recognized the pause but didn’t make an issue of it. I moved on to ask in what ways do I play with him. It was the usual – letting him be the bull rider and me the bull, him Peter Pan and me Captain Hook, flipping him over my head, charging the castle (house) etc. It was all the rough and tumble, adventurous stuff that fills the world of boys…and men! I made a personal resolution to make myself more available for play to Anthony and all my children. The “sometimes” was unacceptable in my book!

I think of all this today as the Church gives us a short reading about St. Joseph and his struggle with, and acceptance of, the will of God in Mary’s pregnancy. He may not have understood fully his role at the time but he trusted in the Lord. Here we could echo Elizabeth’s words to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.“(Lk. 1:45) We could also paraphrase St. Paul’s words and apply them to Joseph, “Abraham Joseph believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”(Rom. 4:3) Joseph trusted the Lord and that the Heavenly Father would make him a suitable father for His Son.

I often like to think of what sort of things Joseph and Jesus did. Did he make forts for Jesus? Did he make swords? Did he spin Jesus around until they were both dizzy falling to the floor laughing? Did Mary roll her eyes as they wrestled on the floor or told endless “knock-knock” jokes? Did he get Jesus a puppy?

Joseph was a “just man” and he is an example for all fathers. The Father trusted Joseph enough to take care of Jesus. The Father trusts us enough to care of the children He gives us. If we want to be good fathers, we must look to St. Joseph and our Heavenly Father for example. With this new Adam and New Eve, Joseph and we fathers, hear the primordial command in regard to our family garden…The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. (Gen. 2:15) To till and protect. Shovel in one hand, sword in the other, we too must build up and defend our family garden; always trusting, as Joseph did, that the Lord will give us the strength and grace to do so.

Thank you Lord for your trust in me. Help me to imitate You and St. Joseph so that I might be the best father I can be always not just “sometimes” because for our children LOVE is spelled P-L-A-Y and T-I-M-E.

FROM THE SAINTS –Love for his wife as mother of their children and love for the children themselves are for the man the natural way of understanding and fulfilling his own fatherhood. Above all where social and cultural conditions so easily encourage a father to be less concerned with his family or at any rate less involved in the work of education, efforts must be made to restore socially the conviction that the place and task of the father in and for the family is of unique and irreplaceable importance. As experience teaches, the absence of a father causes psychological and moral imbalance and notable difficulties in family relationships, as does, in contrary circumstances, the oppressive presence of a father, especially where there still prevails the phenomenon of “machismo,” or a wrong superiority of male prerogatives which humiliates women and inhibits the development of healthy family relationships. – Pope John Paul II (the Great) – Familiaris Consortio # 25

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Here are some Rosary Meditations I wrote a though looking at the Joyful Mysteries through the eyes of St. Joseph

Get a Free Rosary to go along with these meditations.

Based on Luke 11:14-23

The Chronicles of Narnia

When our children were much younger I would read the Chronicles of Narnia to the boys each night before bed. Although they were too young to appreciate the fullness of the stories, they enjoyed them tremendously. They loved the battles, kings, princes, talking beasts, and of course Aslan (the Christ figure of the stories).  It’s hard to chose a favorite out of those 7 books but if I were made to chose it would be the last book – The Last Battle.  Like the title suggests, it’s the last epic battle between good and evil.  It’s a final battle, last judgement, and the opening of the gates of Heaven all in one little book.  In fact, Lewis’ description of the children and good animals entering into “Aslan’s country” is by far my favorite description of Heaven, or at least what I hope it’s like!

The Last Battle

In The Last Battle, an ape named Shift (the Satan figure in this story) tricks the inhabitants of Narnia into believing that he is Aslan’s spokesman. He does this by dressing up a donkey named Puzzle in an old lion skin they found floating in the river.

When the true king of Narnia learns of this he works to make things right.  He works tirelessly to try to convince the inhabitants that this is a trick.  During his struggle he sets a group of dwarfs free from the clutches of the enemies who were taking the dwarfs to be slaves. Yet, a strange thing happens. The dwarfs refuse to serve the King and Narnia. In fact, they refuse to believe in the false Aslan (Puzzle) as well as the real Aslan himself. The dwarfs refuse to believe in anything but the dwarfs.  How many of us have felt that way after being hurt by someone we trusted?  The land of Narnia becomes divided against itself as a result of the evil tricks of the ape.  Soon follows the last great battle of Narnia.

Satan: The Ape of Christ

Satan is clever. His name is also Diablo – the divider. God is the God of unity. Satan seeks disunity. He does this only by twisting that which is good and holy into something evil. Like Shift, Satan often dresses up others to appear as Christ in order to lead souls astray.  How many cults, false prophets, leaders, and even apparitions have led good souls astray?  Like Shift, he seeks to set a house or kingdom against itself. Satan wants us to follow the Ass dressed as the Lion, or at least follow the lead of the dwarfs and believe only in ourselves.  He wants us to to follow false leaders, become atheists, or at the very least, humanists.  He wants division, destruction, and annihilation of all that is good.

A Call to Unity

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us “Every Kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.” He is showing His contemporaries that their accusation that He casts out devils by the name of the devil is illogical. In other words, if Satan and his minions didn’t have one common goal, their kingdom would be destroyed or at least falling apart. In my mind, this is what makes Satan so dangerous and powerful.  There is no division in his ranks.  They are “hellbent” on one goal, eternal destruction of all that holds the image of God.  In my mind this is also why Christians are having such difficulty bringing peace to the world.  We aren’t “heaven-bent” on one goal!!  We are divided on everything from liturgy to doctrine and music to scripture.  The more we argue, the more we are divided, the easier it is for “Shift” to point to so many other false Christs.  We look less like an army and more like a bunch of scattering, scrapping chickens!

Regardless, like the good Narnians in The Last Battle, you and I are called to follow the King. We are called to fight the enemy who mocks God. We are called to side with Aslan (Jesus) even though we cannot see Him and in fact have never “seen” Him but only heard tale of Him or only heard His voice. We are to press on in His name until it is time for us to enter Aslan’s Country (Heaven).  If we cling to the Church, the Bible, the sacraments, and the Catechism we will continue to hear Jesus’ voice and will not be lead astray by an Ass pretending to be a Lion.

C.S. Lewis  had a reason for the two lions….

Jesus – Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5) 

Satan –  Roaring Lion (1 Peter 5:8)

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” –  C.S. Lewis – The Screwtape Letters

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Based on Matthew 18:21-35

You Have Received Mercy

I remember distinctly a very dear friend of mine confiding in me that he could not bring himself to forgive his boss for the way he had treated him.  My friend was offended, was prepared to quit his job, and could in no way bring himself to forgive his employer.

I remember it distinctly because the look of unbelief in my eyes must have shocked him and pierced him to the core.  I simply said to my friend, “of all the people in the world, how can YOU not be ready to forgive another?”  My friend was cut to the quick and looked away.

You see, my friend spent most of his teenage years in prison for murder.  Once he was released he lived a less than holy life focused on himself alone.  Only recently did he experience the healing power of God.  He not only experienced forgiveness from God for his taking of a life, he was able to receive forgiveness and closure from the family.  In fact, God had worked so powerfully in his life that he dedicated his life to helping minister to those in prison and those imprisoned by addiction.

I didn’t speak to my friend in a condemning way nor judge him but rather I asked the question simply, as if I were pleading with him to think of what he was saying.  Both of us instantly thought of today’s Gospel.

God is Mercy

God is Mercy.  From the very beginning, moments after the fall of our first parents, God has been extending His hand to us in mercy.  His mercy didn’t stop at the Crucifixion and it continues to this very moment.  God, in His very being, is Mercy.  He cannot help Himself, that is who He is and it is what He wants for us.

We, on the other hand, need practice.  For us, mercy is a habit.  It is something we must work on.  However, if we keep today’s Gospel in mind, it will certainly help us to be more merciful.  God has forgiven a debt we could never repay.  What then is there in our life that we can not forgive?  The answer should be – nothing.  If God can forgive our sins, and often ones we tend to repeat far more than 77 times, how can we even consider withholding mercy from others?  As St. John Chrysologus says in reference to mercy, “You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others.“ and “…nothing makes us so God-like as our willingness to forgive.“

Now is the Time for Mercy

Many may say, “but how is now a time of mercy?”  Yes, today, things are more difficult than they ever have been for most of us.  The economy is not where we want it to be. The threat of World War III is a very real possibility. Many dioceses are closing parishes and scandal prowls about looking for souls to devour.  The desert of Lent has become more bleak than we could have ever imagined.

Yet this too may also been seen as a time of mercy, a time to repent, a time to rend our hearts and not our garments.  God is allowing us the opportunity to once more think of Him and turn our hearts to Him.  Let’s do that, let’s cry out to the Lord for mercy and show mercy to all.

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