Thought of the Day February 14, 2019 Jesus, the face of mercy.

By 10:05 AM

But my favorite passage from Hosea about God’s loving, forgiving mercy is found in the second chapter of the prophet. After a history of infidelities and worship of idols, God says: “Therefore, I will allure her now; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak persuasively to her. Then I will give her the vineyards she had, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as on the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. On that day you shall call me ‘My husband,’ and you shall never again call me ‘My baal.’ I will remove from her mouth the names of the Baals; they shall no longer be mentioned by their name. I will make a covenant for them on that day....Bow and sword and warfare I will destroy from the land, and I will give them rest in safety. I will betroth you to me forever: I will betroth you to me with justice and with judgment, with loyalty and with compassion; I will betroth you to me with fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.” (Hosea 2:16-22)

This tender mercy became a face in the person of Jesus who revealed the Father’s mercy in word and in deed.  Jesus came to show us that mercy is not an abstract word but a way of life. Pope Francis says: “Mercy is the work that Jesus came to accomplish in the world in the name of the Father (cf. Mt 9:13). Our Lord’s mercy can be seen especially when he bends down to human misery and shows his compassion for those in need of understanding, healing and forgiveness. Everything in Jesus speaks of mercy. Indeed, he himself is mercy."

 Reflect on Jesus' mercy especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (To be continued)

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