Monday of the 4th Week of Lent
Isaiah 65:17-21 | Psalm 29(30):2,4-6,11-13 | John 4:43-54
Thus says the Lord: Now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men’s minds. (Isaiah 65:17)
The past is prologue. Everything we did, everything that was done to us, shaped the persons we are today.
But the past must remain in the past. Whatever sins we have committed, whatever hurts we have endured, they are history. Instead of dwelling on them, instead of convincing ourselves that “as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be”, our response should be “what can we improve tomorrow?”
Lately, I’m reminded of this rather often, as the day draws near for the “changing of the guard” at our parish. A increasing number of rumours have surfaced, some of which would admittedly cause a seismic shift in our parish choirs.
But because they are rumours, I’m determined not to give them any credence. Whatever our new parish priest wants to get done will be revealed shortly, and while extrapolating from his actions at his former parish might be an amusing intellectual exercise, it also strains the working relationship we have to establish with him when he arrives.
We would prefer that others not use our past actions against us, when trying to forge new working relationships; such consideration underlies things like the Yellow Ribbon Project that has been going on for over a decade.
We should also extend that same courtesy to our new parish priest, and not promote the kind of “pre-crime” condemnation that comes with thinking “as it was in the beginning…”
After all, Jesus Himself forgave a lot of sins in His time; so many of His cures were accompanied by the words “your sins are forgiven”. We can but do the same with others: “Whatever’s past is history. Let’s move forward together, rather than against each other.”
Lord, we love to judge others by their previous actions. Help us to forego our judgement, and to forgive as You forgave even those who hung You on the cross, so that we may work together to bring God’s Kingdom to fruition. Amen.