March 9th (3.02.15), Monday, Second Week of Lent

Daniel 9: 4b-10, Psalm 79: 8, 9, 11 and 13, Luke 6: 36-38

As I read Daniel and the Psalms, I am reminded that we are all sinners. Each of us has his own faults that we commit frequently and yet our God always forgives us. He does this from His great abundance of forgiveness. As with the prodigal son, when we return to God's good graces, we are welcomed as a cherished member of the family. The depth of His forgiveness is beyond measure. If only we could be as forgiving to those we meet. How often do we complain? How often do we count our blessings: our families, our health, our jobs, the country we live in, the home in which we live, our changing seasons and the opportunities that we and our children enjoy?

The gospel message is simple: "judge not. And you shall not be judged." How many times in life do we jump to conclusions and make wrong judgments because we don't understand? In 1979 Mary and I had the opportunity to visit Mary's bother in Papua New Guinea where he worked as a missionary. After several long plane rides we spent the last 5 hours going by boat to his small island. When we arrived, there was a reception committee waiting for us. The boat docked at a long pier. The greeters walked toward us and stopped 30 yards away and shouted at us in their language which we didn't understand. At the front of this group were two men. One had a spear and the other held a string between his extended hands. They approached to 10 yards and again shouted at us and waved what was in their hands. It appeared to my unknowing eyes as if we were being told to go away in a strong language.

Fr. Tom had been at this island station for several years and I was pretty we were safe. However, the greeting looked like we were getting into an old fashioned donnybrook. Instead they treated us like royalty. This was their way to greet important visitors. Not understanding the language or the customs put an entirely different view on the matter.

Jim Barrett, Retired, married, father of 5 and grandfather of 11