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Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 5th June 2016


10th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

One of the lessons I learnt from a wise spiritual father is that God's mercy is certainly not like mine; it is unconditional in its compassion. When we fall out with friends or family, situations can get worse because though we go through the motions of forgiveness, we cannot let go of a grievance, real or imagined. This can make us childishly jealous, resentful and angry, raking up the past to get at one another, often by pointing out how ungrateful people are a towards us!

Saint John Climacus wrote: "Some people with a hot temper do not worry about it and ignore the remedies that would heal them. They forget, unfortunately, what is written: 'Surely anger kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple,' (Job 5:2). But how can we change? Maybe by learning from God.

In two stories of bereaved widows we can find a hint. These show God's merciful compassion in the healing of the widows' only sons and full restoration of their societal and religious relationships. The story in the Book of Kings concerns the death of the son of the widow of Zarephath. She assumes this has happened because of her own sinfulness, but Elijah takes control and calls on the Lord to save her son. His prayer is fascinating; firstly because he berates God for inaction, this is just not what God does! "The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." (Ps 146.9) Then Elijah calls on the Lord to heal and his prayer is answered, salvation is given through the compassion and intercession of others!

We have a parallel event of the widow of Nain in Luke (7.11-17), but in this case Jesus, seeing the funeral procession of her only son, is moved with pity. Telling the widow not to weep he calls the young man to life. Mercy unasked is given freely! The mother then recognises Jesus as somebody close to God, not only does she call him a great prophet but she glimpses the unveiling of divine presence, "God has visited His people!"

So, what about us? Simple really. As disciples of the Lord we learn the signs of his merciful compassion, like Elijah we ask for mercy and forgiveness, but like the Gospel open the ways for God to visit His people!

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God: Have mercy on me a sinner!

Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Chaplain for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Britain

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