3rd Sunday of Easter

05-05-2019AllJames Gaffney, © 2010 Karides Lic. to St. George Publishing

Certain phrases are so overused that they have become all but a cliché. For example, how many times do people say ‘Sorry’ when they really mean ‘Excuse me’ or ‘I made a mistake.’ We say we are sorry so often that it has lost power and meaning. It rolls off our tongue with no more thought than a cough or greeting a stranger on the street. It sounds so insincere. Sometimes, with amazing ease, people adopt the attitude that “I am only human” as though being human was an excuse. But our words and actions can hurt others. So what can we do when we do wrong? How do we make it better?

Specific failures call for specific remedies. When we offend someone or hurt someone, we need to offer an apology and plan how we can make amends. Then, ask for forgiveness. We cannot assume that an apology is sufficient. Forgiveness is given and granted, not taken. And then, if we are truly sorry, we go the extra step to demonstrate our sincerity and good intentions. Pay it forward. Do a random act of kindness. Bite your tongue. Be patient with someone who annoys you. Choose something that will be your own personal penance that will help you remember to do the right thing next time. “I’m sorry” may become a cliché, but doing the right thing will never go out of style!