Bullies
At St Joseph’s we spend a great deal of time and money to educate your children. Even on topics such as bullying. You would hope that we could just focus on curriculum and religion but because we all have a tendency to sin this issue of bullying comes around every year.
It is a sin that must be addressed each year. I think it should even be addressed into adulthood. Look at the people in the gospel today. How they circled around Jesus. Their questions were to trap Him. They were filled with venomous spite and hatred. They were acting like bullies on a playground. They could only envision life as they saw it. They blinded themselves to the truth of eternal life. Their hatred toward Jesus quickly turns to murderous thoughts and they pick up stones.
It is our forgiving God who says on the cross, “Forgive them; they know not what they do.” It is so tempting when you do not understand or feel mistreated to shrink back into a hole with your own murderous thoughts, waiting for that moment to attack. You pick up stones of gossip and slander to hurl. From afar you can judge and condemn. You do not realize you only hurt yourself, filling with anger.
Jesus forgives. So should you. Bullies are typically cowards. Be courageous and come out seeking Christ.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen