5 October 2025 #outerCourageinnerForgiveness

You know how Jesus said that the poor will always be with us (Mt 26:11)? It seems that violence falls in the same category. We just can’t seem to maneuver our spiritual lives into alignment with God so that violence is no longer our response to injustice. Like us, our prophet Habakkuk cries out to the Lord in agony, “How long, O Lord, how long? I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene.” Sigh… Some things never change. And why, I have to wonder, is that?

I think St. Paul knew. When he wrote to his friend Timothy he said, “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control.” Love and self-control. Violence is a form of cowardice and bitterness. It’s what happens when we fail to love and pray for the actions and opinions of our enemies. It’s what happens when we believe that God has no power and take it upon ourselves to correct an injustice. It’s what happens when we fail to nurture forgiveness, peace, and hope in our spiritual lives. It’s what happens when we think this earthly life is all there is and we lose faith in what is to come.

That’s where the apostles were in today’s reading too. We miss the first part of this reading from Luke, where Jesus talks about the temptation to sin. He says, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on guard! If you brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, “I am sorry”, you should forgive him. Then the apostles say to Jesus, “Lord, increase our faith.” And then Jesus launches into mustard seeds and servanthood, the topic at hand.

You see, we hang on to our hurts. We let harsh and painful words cling to our souls. We let anger and resentment crowd out love and forgiveness. Jesus says this is not the way it should be. He is the Master and we are his servants. He commands us to forgive and endure cruelties for his sake and when we have done this, we are simply doing what we are obliged to do. But what if forgiveness is the mustard seed? What might happen when we offer the olive branch while wearing our crown of thorns? What if we practice and preach the forgiveness of Love Incarnate, unashamed and unadorned?

Would not that be the power that moves the mulberry tree?

The disciples knew the image of the mulberry tree meant for them to trust in God's timing and methods, even in the face of formidable challenges. The question for us is: Are we ready and able to move the mulberry into the deep and murky water of violence that threatens to destroy us? #outerCourageinnerForgiveness