For This You Were Called ...

St. Ambrose of Milan once remarked, “No one heals himself by wounding another.”

This is a very simple statement, based upon a very profound truth.

Imagine a lion or bear with a deep flesh wound. The instinctive response – the base animal response – is to roar with fangs bared and possibly even strike a slicing blow with razor claws.

In so doing they cause apprehension and fear in others, and if they do strike, they cause pain and injury. We imagine that these beasts are doing so in fury or retribution, but that is not accurate. They are acting out fear and self-defense.

As people we often do the same thing when hurt or wounded by circumstances in life, including other people. We strike out in word or in deed to protect ourselves because we are afraid of being hurt again. And, even worse, there are times when we strike out in revenge.

Yet, in striking out at others — our pain, our hurt, our wounds — find no real healing. As said by renown English philosopher and statesman, Sr. Francis Bacon, “A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.”

Thankfully, we can provide hope to our students here at St. Francis who are looking for healing today and will need to look in the future.

The prescription is found in the words of St. Peter, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

In short, we are called to bless others, even those who have hurt us. When we do bless others we will find God’s blessing and in His blessing we will find ultimate healing.