Last week were given a blue print for those who truly seek to live by the actions and principles that proclaim their belief in the Kingdom of God here and now in all we say and do.

Today’s scriptures conclude this three week cycle on choosing our sides, loving correction of those who fumble or stumble and in the final chapter, today, the topic of forgiveness.

Both in the gospel and the second reading we are reminded of our responsibility to the extent that we are willing to forgive, so shall we be forgiven. Sirach says it succinctly: Should a man nourish anger and expect healing? Should a man refuse mercy and seek pardon for his own sins? Wrath and anger are hateful things. Yet, the sinner hugs them tight.

Even more convincing is to see the connection in the person who hugs his/her hatred and resentment in the way they walk, how carry themselves, tense rigid, contorted. I experienced this for myself several years ago.

I allowed anger and rage to take root and hugged them. Instead of Christ-righteous as St. Paul describes; I became very self righteous and judgmental. Some days later I happened to glance in a mirror in a public washroom and was startled at one of the most horrible looking faces I could imagine. It was my own but not one that I would have ever recognized. It was the face of one who looked like a dead man walking; the face of one who lives for one's self and dies for one's self instead of for Christ. I made the fastest trip of my life to confession.

It is a terrible thing to think that we are the masters of our own destiny. It leads to isolation and arrogance and independence that make us very small selfish and defensive rooted in fear. Fear is never the real Christian motive. It is not God's motive; but it serves a channel to bring us through fear to discover real love -- God's only motive.

The ending of today's gospel for the one who is unable to unlock his fear and rage and resentment is terrifying; but the story is based on the fact that having been forgiven ourselves, it is much easier to give what we have received.

In conclusion an old Arab proverb which says: write the wrongs that are done to you in sand along the shore but engrave the experiences of your life in marble.