The epistle this morning was from Ephesians 6, and talked about honoring one's parents, one's master, one's servants; and about putting on the armor of God.
The Gospel was from Matthew 6, and was, for me, the harder of the two readings.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
I have recently realized how very long my memory is. At the same time, I know there's really no good excuse for an unforgiving spirit. I find myself particularly convicted upon reading this passage, having had several opportunities recently to have my [not so] righteous indignation stoked. Regardless of how purely motivated a person believes his or her anger to be, today's Gospel reading makes very clear that forgiveness is not optional. I'm not saying it can be forced, but it's a long road, and I'd do well to start walking.
The latter portion of the Gospel reading is equally compelling to me.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The reading itself doesn't need any commentary. What do I value most? Where is my treasure?
I'm pondering this morning how these two readings intersect, these ideas of obedience, honor, preparation; forgiveness and valuing things that last rather than what doesn't. Why do they come together, on this, the last non-Lenten Sunday of the season? And since I'm missing Father Tom's commentary on this point, I'll be running it through my processor all day. If I come up with anything particularly compelling, I'll be back to comment.
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