11th September 2005 – 24th Sunday A

S: Good morning, today, we’re on the topic of forgiveness and I guess while it’s one thing to forgive its another thing to forget that you’ve forgiven.

B: and thinking of those words, our word of life for today comes from psalm 102. 'the Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy'. I came across a little quote recently and it goes 'to err is human, to forgive takes restraint, to forget you forgave is the mark of a saint'. And that’s what we’re on about today - how to not alone bury the hatchet if you like, but also to forget where you buried it. So to forgive someone can be hard enough - but to actually forget what they did in the first place is even more difficult.

S: Anthony de Mello tells the story of an old woman in the village who was said to be receiving divine apparitions. The local priest demanded proof of their authenticity. 'When God next appears to you', he said, 'ask Him to tell you my sins which are known to Him alone. That should be evidence enough.'

The woman returned a month later and the priest asked if God had appeared to her again. She said He had. 'Did you put the question to him?'
'I did'
'And what did He say?'
'He said, tell your priest I have forgotten his sins.'

B: To forgive and forget is an all round thing and it can be applied to any situation and this morning’s reflection sums this up.

Search out a forgotten friend. Mend a quarrel.
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.
Write a love letter. Share some treasure.
Give it a soft answer. Encourage youth.
Manifest your loyalty In a word or deed.
Keep a promise. Find the time.
Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy
Listen. Apologise if you were wrong.
Try to understand. Flout envy.
Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else.
Appreciate, be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little more.
Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice.
Decry complacency. Express your gratitude.
Worship your God. Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again.

S: You’ve been listening to Just a thought with Seamus Madigan

B: and Brenda Cribbin. We can be contacted through the Limerick Diocesan Offices at 66 O’ Connell Street or by e-mail on smadigan@limerickdiocese.org. If you would like your own copy of this reflection you can download it by clicking on limerickdiocese.org

S: We look forward to your company again next week, so in the meantime - take care…..

S& B: Byeeeeee……

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