Past Due Service

Returning from my mechanic today, I looked at the dashboard’s bright orange display stating, “Past due service”.  My mechanic and I agreed to not tackle some past due services; it’s not in the budget now.  As I read the dash light, I couldn’t help but think of  past due service in my life.  Jobs unfished.  Tasks for others still on the backburner.  Promises I fell through on over the years.  It made me think that there’s so many loose ends to tie up during Lent, completing unfinished tasks should be a priority during Lent.

I’ll spare the cliché of “Lent is a time to…”.  We’ve all heard that a million times and I’m not talking about the Church norms either. No, I’m talking about the modern fasts like less social media and doom scrolling. Those are fine fasts too, but honestly the good old fashioned less eating is the way to go, in my opinion.

The Old Testament tells us to “fast” from oppressiveness and other burdens we can put on others in life, in Isiah 58:6:

Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden.

God is not telling us to abandon fasting here. How I wish He were at times! He’s telling us the core of what He wants behind our normal fasting during Lent is purity of intention. We know what we have got to do.  Along with the usual Lenten norms, tying up loose ends with others is a great way to grow in diligence and meet the meat and potatoes that God talks about in Isiah.  It is about looking out for others in need.  The Our Father prayer teaches us that the number one loose end to tie up should be forgiving as we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us”.

Since many of us have difficulty forgiving, we should at least try to practice it.  Say a decade of the Rosary for that enemy.  Leave the New England clam chowder on the market shelf and pray for your enemy. I know a Filet ‘O Fish and a chocolate shake at Mickey Dees meets the Friday criteria but in the words of our past President here in the USA, “C’mon man”.  We need to practice forgiving by forgetting ourselves, I suppose.  “Be ye made perfect as thy Heavenly Father is perfect”, says the Lord.

Jesus commands us to reconcile with those we are in a bad way with. He says in Matthew:

So if you are bringing your gift to the altar, and then remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matt 5:23-24).

Honestly, it sounds like Jesus is saying 2000 years later, “Hold off on dropping our envelope into the basket and Holy Communion until a bridge is repaired with that person, even if they don’t accept the apology right away”. We are dealing with some real weight here.We should at least attempt to honestly work things out and it doesn’t matter who was the first one to start the trouble either.

In regard to a sincere apology, If we could literally see Jesus, I suspect He would be one of those types that really doesn’t want the backstory, laundry list, and drama before we ask for forgiveness.  No, like the old Dragnet show with actor Jack Webb, “Just the facts, ma’am”.  Spare the backstory as to “why” we did such and such.  Admitting your wrong is tough.  Do not try to cushion it.  No script about what led you to do it.  Just a response like Jesus wanted. “Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no, anything else is from the Evil One” .

I remember a talk the late Fr Benedict Groeschel gave years ago.  He talked about carrying one’s cross without the whining and seeking softer ways out.  He was a tough New Jersian “straight outta” Jersey City.  He was no joke and saved many souls.  He talked about us wanting to put a “foam shoulder pad and wheels on our cross Jesus asks us to carry”. How can you not love that style of speech?!

I must ask myself, “Am I seeking to avoid satisfying the offended person’s hunger for justice by telling them why I did such and such first when apologizing?” If so, I won’t be astounded when the offended party looks at me with a “you’ve got to be kidding me” stare.  I must simply initiate an apology, and if and when they accept, then I may provide them with the backdrop.  Put the horse before the cart.  How would I want someone to apologize to me if they did something to wrong me?  Would I want them to approach me with, “Hey sorry, man.  I was just really tired and in debt, etc. I apologize and didn’t mean to do such and such to you.”   Or rather, “Hey, I apologize for what I did the other day.  If there is anything I can do to make it up to you, let me know.” Wow, can you hear the difference?

A very good coach taught me this method of apology years ago, and if you’re reading this you know who you are.  God bless you, Walt.