Weekly Bible Study - Isaiah 55:6-9

21 September 2014

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time  

When we consider “God’s ways” and “my ways” we are more apt to think about God’s plans and actions than about God's mercy. But the real point of this passage is the generosity of God’s forgiveness. One commentary offered an interesting observation about today’s first reading: God’s mercy sails through space while human mercy rides the subway!

How willing are we to forgive as God forgives? The little boy who prayed, “Forgive us our trashbaskets as we forgive those who put their trash in our baskets” may have had the wrong words but he certainly had the right idea. It is particularly difficult for us to forgive those who continue to put the same old trash in our already-overflowing baskets. And besides the “trash” others heap upon us, we generate a lot of our own: painful memories, guilt feelings, resentments, fears, memories of failure and sinful tendencies. It is difficult to approach the forgiving heart of God when our own hearts are so heavy with spiritual pain.

One way of looking at our unwillingness to forgive – both ourselves and others – is to consider the adverse effects of non-forgiveness on our bodies, minds and spirits. Bearing an unforgiving heart can consume our thoughts and fracture relationship. An unforgiving heart depletes our energy, disturbs our sleep, enters our unconscious, and engenders nightmares. Our focus becomes the hurt, guilt or retribution, rather than the good of the other.

It is God, not we, who sets the standard of forgiveness. We receive generously from the vast storehouse of His mercy.

God never tires of emptying our “trash” baskets! Can we do the same? 

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Fr. Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.