Last evening, I was driving to CMAC in Canandaigua to see Steve
Martin. On Route 20, I found myself behind a car creeping along and getting
impatient. It reminded me of a story about a man screaming epithets and beating
on the steering wheel when he was interrupted by a policeman, gun drawn,
tapping on his window. The driver was ragging: "You can't arrest me for
hollering in my car," but the policeman ordered him into the back seat of
the police car. After checking over his car from top to bottom, the arresting
officer advised him he was free to go. The driver said, "I knew you
couldn't arrest me for what I was yelling in my own car. You haven't heard the
last of this." The officer replied, "I didn't arrest you for shouting
in your car. I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and
beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, 'What a jerk. Then I noticed
the cross hanging from your rear-view mirror, the fish on the trunk lid, and
the "My boss is a Jewish Carpenter," and the "Jesus is Coming
Soon" bumper stickers. I was going to arrest you for stealing a car from a
Christian."
So, you have not been attending Mass to protest the failure
of the church to report the hideous crimes of its priests or you were just too
busy on the golf course or taking your grandkids to the beach. To bring you up
to date, Jesus has people walking away and scolding him for not following the
rules of his synagogue.
However, Jesus is looking for people with a “teachable
spirit.” While some may criticize us for our lack of presence, Jesus is focused
on a faith that takes a neighbor shopping, bids on a steer to donate the
hamburger to hungry families, calls a brother to express forgiveness and
surrender our past resentment.
Revenge, anger, and dwelling on how someone
hurt you will eat away at you. It is a huge barrier to finding healing and
peace. God promises that if we seek his face instead of retribution, he will
bring healing.
God prays for us
as we reflect: “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed
from you, along with all malice. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” Ephesians 4:31–32
.
Lord, I pray for
all my Sonshine Friends that they will have a “teachable spirit” where the love
of Jesus will help us be more compassionate and forgiving.
