Forgiveness and mercy

Cardo is the root of the word cardinal, meaning hinge in Latin. As Catholics we call fortitude, temperance, prudence and patience the four cardinal virtues. All the other virtues, especially the three most important faith, hope, charity are not effective or healing unless they are hinged onto fortitude, temperance, prudence, patience. What is key to the Christian life is not our judging what we see, hear, fear, desire or react to but to interpret all with forgiveness and mercy. We dare to pray in our responsorial psalm, “The Lord is kind and merciful.’ So, the Gospel of St. Luke has as its predominant theme generosity and mercy. St. Luke’s words want us to know and realize that we are made in the image and likeness of God, but we came with nothing and will return to the Earth with nothing. So all we have in this world is a reward or gift from God that we are to willingly share with each other. Jesus offers us the supreme example of this sharing by his Passion and Death on the Cross. These words on the Cross must be our words in this final week of February, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do,”

St. Paul in our second reading from l Corinthians compares Adam and Jesus. Going back to the creation narrative in the Book of Genesis, as God blew the breath of life into Adam’s nostrils and he began to live. Jesus breathed on the disciples after the Resurrection and gave them the Holy Spirit and so Jesus at Baptism and Confirmation breathes that same Holy Spirit upon us. Thus, we are given these Hinge Virtues to live, use and act upon each day as we show mercy and forgiveness.

St. Edmund of England was betrayed and arrested and was visited by his betrayer. Not only did he forgive him, but Edmund urged him to leave England for his own safety. He also gave him a letter of safe conduct to give to a friend in Germany. God asks us in some small way each day to be willing to follow the example of this man of England. Jesus clearly desires that we love our enemies and do good to them and expect nothing back in return. Even in the Old Testament forgiveness and mercy were known as prime virtues as given the opportunity to kill Saul, David spares his life even though Saul had tried to kill David when he had the chance.

An old janitor had become a legend around his company by the time he retired. When he had arrived in the United States as a new immigrant, he recoiled when he first glimpsed at the messy floors and dirty conditions at the factory. Then, he just shrugged his shoulders and dug in. Initially the other workers felt a little dirt on the floor would be OK, and they jostled him when he came down the aisle with his broom. One day, the company president walked through the entire plant and was so impressed with the unaccustomed gleam and cleanliness of this department that he rewarded this janitor. The department was so pleased for the janitor they all began to assist him in keeping their section particularly clean. As the surroundings became more pleasant and orderly, all the employees found themselves not only enjoying their work but doing more work and doing it better. In such a simple way the sweeper’s broom became a contributor to quality. We are all sweepers to some extent and the interest quality care and dedication that hinge you and your work will result in quality products of mercy and forgiveness. All of these from working on the hinge…..fortitude, temperance, prudence, patience.