Ecclesiasticus 27:30 – 28:7 / Romans 14:7-9 / Matthew 18:21-35
When we look at life and ask ourselves what is it that we want in life, the answer can be quite obvious.
Over and above everything else, we want to be happy, and like how all fairy tales often end, we want to live life happily ever after.
But it seems that life is never ever happy!
So, whether we are studying or working, single or married, junior or senior or retired, happiness in whatever state of life seems so elusive.
And because we are not happy in life, we get tired and weary with the burdens and struggles of life.
But what is really the cause of our unhappiness in life?
Actually, human beings can take a lot of hardships in life and still be happy.
But it is the hardness of heart that makes us unhappy.
And here, the 1sr reading points out what it is that causes that hardness of heart.
The 1st reading begins with this: Resentment and anger, these are foul things, and both are found in the sinner.
And from resentment and anger flows other foul things like vengeance, hurt, unforgiveness and even hate.
Yes, all these are foul things, and these foul things make us unhappy, and we also make others unhappy.
And these foul things cause the heart to be hardened and unhappy.
Foul things are like rubbish in the house. We need to clear the rubbish in the house, otherwise there will be a bad rotten smell and of course, there will be pest infestation.
Similarly, we need to clear the foul things in our lives so that our hearts can be clean and happy.
But we know how difficult it can be. Even the 1st reading has this to say: Mere creatures of flesh, he cherishes resentment.
Putting it bluntly, and we have to admit it, we like to keep the foul things of resentment, anger, vengeance and unforgiveness, although that doesn’t make us happy at all.
Jesus came to cleanse us of these foul things so that we can be happy in life.
On the cross Jesus did not let any of these foul things get into His Heart and He even prayed: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
On the Cross, blood and water flowed from His pierced side to cleanse our hearts.
Let us look at the Cross, and let us embrace the Cross, so that Jesus can heal us with the blood and water from His Heart.
May the blood and water from the Heart of Jesus cleanse us and make us happy and make us holy, so that we too can make others happy and help them to be holy.