Thought of the Day February 25, 2019 We need God's mercy
In so many ways we are recipients of the mercy of God flowing from the heart
of Jesus as the divine rays. Even before we cry out, ALord, have mercy,@ his gift of mercy has
been promised and given, independently of anything we do. Our cry for mercy does not open up the door
of mercy in God=s
heart, but opens us to the given reality
of God=s love, already poured
out.
Paradoxically, the extent
of openness of the door of our own heart to receive mercy is in proportion to
the wideness of mercy we extend to others in love. This is the meaning of the statement in the
Beatitudes: ABlessed
are they who show mercy, mercy shall be their=s@ (Mt 5:7). Our Holy Father has given us this reflection:
AThe church sees these
words (of the Beatitude) as a call to action.
Practicing mercy is a lifestyle, a characteristic of the Christian
vocation. It is a creative love in which
the one who gives also profits, and in any case they who show mercy can easily
find themselves in need of mercy.@
(14)
What we want, what this world needs, is for us to live
the mercy of God—to be mercy right down to the depths of our soul—in what we
say and what we do.
That is why Jesus tells us: “Blessed are the merciful,
they shall receive mercy.” God has shown us mercy beyond measure. The only
response to mercy is mercy, just as the only response to love is love. Jesus
reminds of this if different ways. One was in the parable of the merciless
servant. Though he had been totally and freely forgiven an enormous debt by the
Master, he was not grateful. Instead, he insisted that another servant, a peer,
should pay back the small debt he owed. He refused to show the same mercy to
another. As a result, that merciless servant had to pay for his ingratitude. He
failed to remember that the gift one measures with will be measured back to
that person. How could he expect mercy again, if he did not show mercy? (To be continued)
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