'That less traveled road!' to forgiveness

   "That less traveled road!" coined by the poet Robert Frost enabled him to discover a lot about himself. He was a small-time farmer, a mill hand, a poultry man, a teacher and finally, a writer and poet from which he gained much fame. During those years before settling down to write, he strengthened his beliefs and values.

   At this Lenten moment, I would like to consider that less traveled road which Jesus chose for himself in his life, influencing many. The less traveled road is a path of sacrifice and suffering, friends of the virtue of forgiveness. I am sure we can agree that such a road is not easy to follow, far less to embrace as a lifestyle. Here is how Jesus describes it: "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you ... give to everyone who asks of you and from the one who takes what is yours, do not demand it back." (Luke 6: 27-30)

This is a daunting challenge. To forgive those who have wronged us, is not easy. I came across a wonderfully written essay entitled, Waiting for Judas by Madeleine L'Engle who refers to an old legend about Judas. The story speaks for itself.

   "After his death, Judas found himself at a bottom of a slimy pit. For thousands of years, he wept in repentance and when his tears were spent, he looked up and saw, way, way up, a tiny glimmer of light! After reflecting upon this little shaft of light for another thousand years, Judas began to climb toward it. Because the walls of the pit were wet and slimy, he slipped back again and again. After many more tears and many more tries, Judas managed to drag himself out of the pit! Suddenly he found himself in an upper room with 12 people seated around a table. 'We have been waiting for you, Judas,' says Jesus, 'We couldn't begin until you came!'"

   May that less traveled road we choose to follow, help us on our journey.            +Don Ronaldo