Today we celebrate the feast of St. Leo the Great. He was the Pope in 440. 1568 years ago he stood in the shoes of the fisherman, he walked in the footsteps of Peter seeking to fulfill the commands Christ had given to Peter in the gospel of John, "to feed my sheep, tend my sheep."
It is quite a beautiful gift of continuity we celebrate as Catholics. The faith that Pope Leo the Great taught and lived is the same faith we as Catholic teach and live. The continuity and depth of such a faith is truly a gift of God's ever abiding presence until the end of the age.
Here are few words spoken by Leo the Great some 1568 years ago, "every human being situated among the hazards of life must seek the mercy of God by being merciful."
These are old words but with lasting significance, ancient texts with modern appeal.
Jesus in the gospel tells the apostles and all of us that we must forgive those who wrong us even if they wrong us seven times in one day when they come before us we should forgive them as often.
The apostles, when they hear this, beg the Lord to "increase their faith."
The apostles remind us that forgiveness is not just a faith filled thing to do, it is the faith fill way to live.
Living a life of faith is about freedom. Thus, forgiveness, giving that to others, is about choosing to live in the freedom that Faith brings. When we forgive, we choose to uproot the mulberry tree of doubt and confusion and animosity in our life and embrace freedom. We give freedom to those who offend us and we give freedom to ourselves when we choose to live a faith fill life of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the faith fill way to live because it is the way that Jesus lives in his own life. While we were sinners, Jesus died for us. He gives us freedom in forgiveness.
May we faithfully live the gift of forgiveness and embrace the path of freedom as we live the 'hazards of this life" thus seeking the mercy of God by being merciful in our lives to all.
St. Leo the Great reminds us "all human beings, regardless of who they happen to be, should come to terms with the fact that they have a mortal nature subject to change-and usually for the worse. In view of this shared condition, let them have sympathy toward their own race."
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