When we are slandered and our
reputation is at stake, we always feel the need to defend ourselves and to
explain ourselves. Our human dignity and our pride would not allow us to
suffer innocently or silently. And this is understandable. But my dear brothers
and sisters, very often, when we try to bring about clarification through
dialogue, it is always a great challenge. Because we are insecure, we
tend to be prejudiced against people. We want to impose our views, our judgement
on people, on situations, on others. And we always think that we are right. Our
minds are often closed. That is why, very often, in a dialogue, instead of
reconciliation, there is a greater animosity created. Because in the
dialogue, everyone feels the need to prove himself, to justify himself. We do
not allow ourselves to lose the debate. We must have the last word. We must win
at all cost. Our focus is not to listen to the other party, but to defend our
position. My dear brothers and sisters, this was the same situation of Jesus
into today's Gospel. In the earlier chapters of Mark, which we have read in
the last few days, of the controversies that Jesus had with the scribes and the
Pharisees, with regards to the question of fasting, the question of the Sabbath
law. And Jesus wanted to reinterpret the laws, so that the laws would be really
relevant for their lives, instead of obeying them blindly, and stifle their
growth and their freedom. But of course, the Pharisees and the scribes felt
threatened by our Lord. They were not ready to listen. They were out to destroy
Jesus. And in view of this, that was the reason why perhaps the relatives
soon came to hear that Jesus was mad. The family members went out to bring
Jesus back home, because He was an embarrassment to the family. And Jesus
must have felt terribly disheartened and sad. You know, when your loved ones and
the people that you love, that you care most go against you, think ill of you,
and when you have done good for them, how do you feel? Of course, you feel
that you have been betrayed, that you have not been understood. And yet, Jesus
accepted it humbly, of course, with deep sorrow, but never retaliated. When Judas
betrayed Him, He still offered a morsel of bread, to try to win him back. And Jesus
has taught us in the Gospel that even the lost sheep must be found. And that is
why it's very important, my dear brothers and sisters, that we must
imitate the beautiful example of Jesus, with regards to people who hurt us, who
have misjudged, who have slandered us, who have destroyed sometimes even our
reputation. Instead of taking revenge, then we must be like Jesus on the cross,
saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." Indeed, my
dear brothers and sisters, it is through innocent suffering, through our faith in God,
that ultimately, God will vindicate us. And we want to pray even for those who have
sinned against us, and those who have fallen, that God will grant them the
final moment, the grace of conversion, so that they too may have eternal life.
