Now Is the Time For Mercy

For the front of their letters to Pope Francis last week the 4th and 3rd graders had as one of their options to draw the Prodigal Son. I picked that parable because it is a story both grades are very familiar with, and it is one of the most moving portrayals of God’s tender mercy showing the depths of his loving kindness.

The theme of their letters was mercy because this, as you by now know, is the Pope’s special focus, and as he said in his Bull of Indiction for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, “Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life.” Nothing in our preaching and witnessing to the Gospel should be lacking in mercy—But you beloved, grow strong in your holy faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit. Persevere in God’s love and welcome the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which leads to eternal life. Jude: 20-21

To prepare for and benefit from this upcoming Year of Mercy we must begin now to again make mercy our everyday way of being. Mercy is God’s greatest attribute Saint John Paul II tells us, and as a Church it must be ours also.

First though, we need to note what is divine mercy. When we hear the word mercy we sometimes only think of it in the sense of being pardoned or dealt with in a lenient way.  When we talk of mercy in reference to God, however, it is something so much more, something exceedingly greater.  In God’s hands mercy is a radical, tender, and compassionate love that exceeds all our hopes and expectations.

The beauty and joy of this tender, steadfast love (hesed) God has for each one of us, especially as it is revealed through his Son, Jesus Christ, is that this is a God to fall in love with. To contemplate and delight in this amazing mystery of God is to be awed and humbled by the depth you are loved and ultimately to want to return that love.

With the same sense of urgency that Pope Francis speaks about I will join him and say now is the time for mercy—for mercy is not only God forever “throwing open the doors of his heart,” to give us his love as the Pope wrote, but also, “the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look at the future with hope.” We must not dally in responding to the Pope’s call for us to bring this message to all people.

As one possible way to help get started now you can click on the link below to learn more about Divine Mercy as revealed to Saint Faustina and pray a novena to Divine Mercy as you discern how you can respond more and more with eyes of mercy.  This link goes to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy website.  As a side note - my faith reflections in the parent letter this month have been about pilgrimage sites around the world.  This is also a wonderful place to go to, and you don't even need a passport to get there.  They are in Stockbridge, Mass, so it does take some travel, but keep them in mind when in the area.

You can also click on this link to download the novena to the Holy Spirit which is traditionally prayed between the Ascension and Pentecost Sunday. The Ascension is coming up on Thursday, 14 May 2015.   https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/pentecost/seven.htm