Nwee obi ebere

UGBU A OKWU NA MASS NA-agụ akwụkwọ
nke Machị 14, 2014
Fraịdee nke izu mbụ nke Lenti

Ederede ederede Ebe a

BỤ ị nwere obi ebere? Ọ bụghị otu n'ime ajụjụ ndị anyị kwesịrị ịtinye ndị ọzọ dị ka, "Achọpụla gị, choleric, ma ọ bụ webata gị, wdg." Mba, ajuju a di n’etiti ihe o putara ibu an authentic Christian:

Nwenu obi-ebere, dika Nna-unu nwere obi-ebere. (Luk 6:36)

The very character of God, His love, is expressed in His mercy toward us. This could not be clearer than in the first reading today when the Lord promises that He will forgive all the iniquities of the wicked if they but turn back to Him:

N’ezie, ọnwụ nke ndị ajọ omume ọ̀ na-eme m obi ụtọ ọ bụla? ọ bu ihe si n'ọnu Onye-nwe-ayi Jehova puta. Obi ọ́ naghị atọ m ụtọ mgbe ọ hapụrụ ụzọ ọjọọ ya ka o wee dịrị ndụ?

And yet, how many Christians rejoiced to see Saddam Hussein dangling by a noose, or Gaddafi’s body being dragged through the streets, or Bin Laden allegedly bloodied and shot? It is one thing to rejoice that, perhaps, a reign of evil is over; it is another to celebrate the death of the wicked. Are we as Christians calling for the fires of divine justice to fall on the earth and wipe out this sinful generation…. or for the fires of divine mercy to convert it?

Life is difficult. The older one gets, the more you realize that it is a continuous journey from mountaintops into the valley of the shadow of death. As David once wrote, “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are gone…” ^[1]cf. Abụ Ọma 90: 10 We can acquire a lot of hurts along the way, a lot of injustices at the hands of others. But even so, we are called to be ebere. Why? Because Christ has forgiven me all my infidelities and injustices, and continues to do so. If I find it hard to forgive another, I would do well to pray today’s Psalm:

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness… For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption…

Brothers and sisters, as you and I gently but firmly stand our ground on the immutable natural and moral laws on gay marriage, homosexuality, abortion, and fidelity to all of our Catholic Tradition, we will be persecuted. And the most painful persecution is going to come from within, from those who accuse us precisely of being enweghị obi ebere for adhering to the truth.

Anyị nwere ike ịhụ na mwakpo a na-emegide Pope na Chọọchị anaghị esite naanị n'èzí; kama, ahụhụ nke Nzukọ-nsọ ahụ sitere n'ime Nzukọ-nsọ ahụ, site na mmehie ahụ dị na Nzukọ-nsọ. Nke a bụ ihe ọmụma oge niile, mana taa anyị na-ahụ ya n'ụdị na-emenye ụjọ n'ezie: mkpagbu kasịnụ nke Chọọchị esiteghị n'aka ndị iro nke mpụga, kama ọ mụrụ site na mmehie n'ime bornka. ” —POPE BENEDICT XVI, gbara ajụjụ ọnụ na ụgbọ elu na Lisbon, Portugal; Ndị na-ebi ndụ ndụỌnwa Ise 12, 2010

But today’s Gospel warns not to let anger rule over us, or we will be “liable to judgment.” Rather, we are to be the ones to “go first and be reconciled with your brother…” Ịbụ “plenteous” in mercy.

How often others listen little to what we say—but watch intently otú we say it! Mercy should imbue everything we do. Some of the most powerful conversions in the history of Christianity have been through the witness of the martyrs loving their persecutors unto death.

This Lent, we need to search our hearts for those against whom we hold grudges, bitterness, cynicism, and unforgiveness… and then be merciful, just as your Father is merciful… Let us be merciful to the end!