Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
It's easy to think about what others ought to do when relationships are not as they should be. Its also often unhelpful to apportion blame. The Holy Club question rightly focuses on what will I do about it.
How can I take a positive step to restore a relationship that's been damaged - even (or especially?) when I'm the one in the right.
If I'm in the wrong (and I often am!), I have to get over defensiveness and self-justification before I can put things right.
If I'm the one being wronged, I need to get over hurt and self-righteousness before I can be the one making the first step to put things right.
Holy week is full of stories of people failing Jesus:
Judas the betrayer
The disciples sleeping when Jesus needed them most
Peter denying
Soldiers wrongly arresting him
The priests falsifying evidence
A cowardly judge handing down an unjust sentence
All these make Jesus words from the cross: 'Father, forgive them' unbelievable.
Jesus sets the example, may we find from him the grace to follow it.
Bible passage to meditate on: Luke 6:27-36
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