Today, in our tradition, the angel Gabriel comes to Mary with an invitation. The messenger angel tells Mary what a wonderful young woman she has been in the eyes of God that He has special plans for her. However, Mary in her humanness reveals her fear, doubt, confusion and finally acceptance of this invitation to serve the blessed role as the mother of God.You might ask yourself what is your vocation at this stage in life. To lead a spiritual life means to develop a sense of vocation. Such people tend to see their work not just as a job, but as a calling. Spiritual folks feel that they are a part of a higher purpose, that their life however unfamous, counts, that they were put here for a reason. God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work to me. Which he has not committed to another? He has not created me to bring on chaos and despair, I shall do his work; I shall be an angel of peace. One way to be an angel of peace is to practice the following commandments of forgiveness.
The Fourth Commandment: Forgiveness is not indifference. What that means is where things are harmful and wrong, we don’t just go back to “business as usual,” and let the hurt and damage go on. Forgiveness is not indifference, and we should do what we can to make sure the evil won’t happen again.
The Fifth Commandment: Forgiveness is not the same thing as approval. We can be forgiving and, at the same time, express our disagreement, express our disapproval of harmful behavior. The next commandments are more positive and deeper.
The Sixth Commandment: Forgiveness is based on recognizing and admitting that people are always bigger than their faults. People are always larger than, and they are more than, their mistakes or their wrongdoings. In other words, we don’t define somebody and who they are by something they said to us or the way they hurt us. They are bigger than that. Forgiveness is based on recognizing and admitting that people are always bigger and more than their faults and their mistakes.
The Seventh Commandment: Forgiveness is willing to allow a person who has offended us to start over again. You know, the more common thing is saying, “Never again! No way! I will never let that happen again. I will never have anything to do with him again. No way!” Forgiveness means letting go of that. Forgiveness means allowing another person to start all over again.
God prays for us as we reflect: “Then the angel said, Do not fear (insert your name here), for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine friends who are suspicious and sometimes doubt God’s is calling out to them. Despite our doubts, our sins, our reluctance to believe, all are welcomed to come and adore him. In his divine eyes: “We are ALL perfect.” Children created in the image and likeness of God.
