The common theme
of the readings for this weekend is God’s command concerning our spiritual
responsibility and individual accountability for others in our families,
parishes and community.
“Take the time to do what you need to do and do it
now!” That is surely the best advice on what action to take if you have been
hurt by someone. The hurt may have been intentional or may have been
unintentional. Whatever the rights and wrongs the important thing is not who is
right or wrong but to find a way to keep that relationship. Who will take the
first step to heal the situation, me or the other person, is something we can
all do – the best time to take that step is today! Do not delay.
There is a story called “The Carpenter” which illustrates how to promote mutual and forgiving love in any community. There were two brothers on neighbouring farms who fell into conflict where for many years they had worked together sharing resources. This conflict turned into a major discord which resulted in weeks of silence and absence of any sharing. One day one of the brothers heard a knock on his door and a man with a carpenter’s toolbox was there. He said “I need some work i hope you might have some work for me here which I could do.”
“Well as a matter of fact i do have a job you could do. You see that ditch over there. I want an 8 foot fence built so that I won’t have to look at my brother’s farm across there any more. He constructed the ditch there just to spite me.” The carpenter thought and then said “I understand
what you are saying and I am sure I can do a job that pleases you. Just give me
the materials and I will do it today for you.”
The brother said “Alright”, showed him where the
materials were and went off to the town for a meeting. When the brother
returned that evening he found the carpenter just finishing the work, but there
was no fence, he had built a bridge across the ditch. It was well made, sturdy
and with handrails along the sides. At that moment he saw his brother coming on
the bridge with his hand reaching out to him and saying “Well done for building
this bridge between us after all I have said and done.” The brothers met in the
middle and joined hands. They turned to see the carpenter putting his toolbox
on his shoulder, about to go. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other
projects for you”, said the brother who had asked him to do the work.
“I’d love to stay on”, the carpenter said, “but I
have many more bridges to build.”
Finally I read the following short story recently, told by a man called Roy A. Burkhart. Once a boy went out of his home to do something that his parents felt was wrong. He was involved in an accident and lost both legs. It was a terrible blow, but the father told me one of the most beautiful stories I have ever heard. He said, “When his mother and I saw him in the hospital cot lying there aware that he had lost both legs, he said, ‘Will you forgive me?’ We both ran up and hugged him and said, ‘Of course; we have already forgiven you.’ And he answered, ‘Then I can live without my legs.’ ”
