July 2017
July 2017
3500 Ames Blvd.,
Marrero, LA 70072
504.347.2203
VOL.ORG
Good Stewards Know God Forgives
Even If We Don’t
We Catholics aren’t nearly as knowledgeable about the Old
Testament as we are about the New Testament. And, that’s understandable.
The Old Testament is, in a meaningful way, OLD news. The New
Testament is the latest headline. It teaches us the fullness of God’s
revelation. In the New Testament, Jesus “fulfills” the Old Testament. Let’s
put that in easier to understand language. Jesus adds to the Old Testament,
completing it.
One of the most significant ways Jesus upgrades the Old Testament
is how he adds to the Old Testament teachings on forgiveness. The Old
Testament revolves around the principle of “an for and eye and a tooth for a
tooth.” Getting even is okay in the Old Testament. We just can’t up the
ante on someone who harms us. If someone breaks my arm, I can break his,
but I am forbidden from breaking both of his arms. Trust me. At that time,
“an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth” was a major moral upgrade.
Prior to that, a person tried to inflict a lot more damage on an enemy than he
had inflicted on me. The thinking was, “He’ll know I’m serious and he
won’t respond because he’ll know that if he does, I’ll up the ante again.”
As he does so frequently, Jesus turns conventional wisdom upside
down. Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek.” Jesus says the previously
unthinkable. Jesus says we should not take revenge. Jesus says we should
forgive. ALL. Even our ENEMIES. Even if they don’t forgive us.
Okay, before I do what I always do, tell a story to illustrate my
point, let me talk a little about forgiveness. Forgiveness has nothing to do
with feelings. Forgiveness is a willed act. Forgiveness is doing what Jesus
Continued on page 8
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Inside
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Postcards from Fr. Mike
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Get Connected with VOL
CCD Registration
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Peach Prayer Walk
Coffee & Donut Social
Holy Day of Obligation
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Undercover Boss/
Undercover Cross
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Going Back to School - 40
Years Ago
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Relic of the Holy Cross