At harvest time a scholar saint speaks to us across 14 centuries. St Caesarius of Arles came soon after St Patrick. Like our Patron, he received some of his formation in the famous monastery of Lerins. His message is concise, relevant and blunt.
He is fearful for us lest our crude effrontery could blind us to Gospel Truth. We ask pardon for our countless sins, offences and neglect. We presume our petitions will be heard, while, all too often, we reject the pleading of others. We, in such dire need of forgiveness, refuse, with hardened hearts, to forgive our fellow pilgrims.
We say glibly the splendid prayer given to us by Christ: " . . forgive us our trespasses!" We come with confidence to the Father with the words Jesus gave to us. Are we really listening to ourselves? One tiny word must alert us to deep awareness and to sincere contrition. We ask to be forgiven and to be cleansed and, once again, set free as and only as we with humble hearts forgive all those who have harmed or hurt us. Do we stumble over this word? Does a single syllable catch us in the throat and choke our prayer?
We hope for full and generous absolution at journey's end. Now, on the pilgrim way, do we reject the gracious plea of some humble and repentant neighbours? We look once more in the mirror of the Gospel to see if all is well. "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean! Lord, that I may see!"
Our petition, daily made, states a most firm resolve already put into effect. " . . . forgive us our offences as we have already for- given those who have offended us . . . " We would not wish to deny in action the solemn declaration of our sacred prayer.
Dare we forget Christ's luminous precept? ". . if you come to the Altar of God and there remember you have something in your heart against your neighbour . . go! Go first and be reconciled. Then come, and offer your gift. . !" The teaching is valid for quiet cloister and for noisy city, and for all the years. The Word of the Lord endures forever. By His Truth we are judged.
Peter, as always, wishes to set an example. "How often should I forgive? Seven times?" The Master opened up new horizons for him and for us: "I do not say seven times, but seventy times seven times . . ." Justice, love and peace take on new dimensions as the clarion call goes out to the limits of the world and to the end of time. "By this will all know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another. . !" When we, in blind folly, refuse to forgive, we break the bridge we ourselves must cross.
Christ's words on Calvary echo now in heart and mind. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. . ." If His teachings of mercy of pardon and of peace fade from our lives then we cease to be pilgrims of Light. We add to the darkness and postpone the longed-for dawn of a civilisation of love.
" . . . Your image is the Lord
of Life,
Your Son from all eternity;
All that must perish, he
restores;
In Him all reconciled will be.
Transfigured Christ, believed
and loved,
For you our only hope has
been;
Grant us in your unfathomed
love
Those things no eye has ever
seen."
Lord, teach us how to pray.
F.MacN.