Lent as a Time of Forgiveness

"Forgive those who trespass against us."

Someone mentioned to me this week how much they liked the Episcopalian church because it was so non judgmental. My counter is that in everything we do, we are judged. We're expected to adhere to a particular standard in school, in our careers, at home with our families, in public. The list could go on for a while. Life is all about making judgements. It's a good thing too, because there is a right and a wrong in this world and both exist in abundance.

Here's where many catholics (and most christians) differ from the general population. There is also forgiveness. We're called to make some very difficult choices on that matter too. It means transcending what traditional human emotion might dictate that we do: Offer mercy even to those we think may not deserve it.

Mo'ne Davis, a thirteen year old child sports prodigy, was subject to an incredibly callous, crass, harassing, hate filled twitter message recently. The culprit, a male college first baseman was abruptly removed from the team. Yes, we repeatedly see how social media has removed a filter that once existed between people's awful thoughts and the public sphere. It's not that these terrible ideas didn't exist with some likely high profile people back in the day, but now they don't get away with it. Overall this is good because it elevates the standard we demand from people, especially celebrities.

The reason this story is worth talking about however is Mo'Ne Davis teaching us all how to carry one's self with a level of class rarely seen in the culture of revenge we have today. Upon discovering the college freshman's comment had landed him off the team she promptly emailed that school's administration petitioning for his reinstatement. Despite the evil she was faced with, she chose to show the power of forgiveness. Much of what tears society and families apart today is the inability to forgive. We all sin, and that divides us. It's time to find ways to bring us back together.

As christians, we are called to show mercy. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. The wages for sin is death. A death that Jesus takes to the cross for us, and that we reflect on during holy week. Going forward let's stop giving people what they deserve, and instead, offer them what they need: God's love and mercy.