Mercy Revealed!
We will be hearing a great deal about mercy in the year ahead as we celebrate the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which Pope Francis opened on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2015. What does it mean to say that God is merciful? Mercy is the suppression of justified condemnation. Throughout salvation history there are examples of God’s mercy toward errant kings, and to those in captivity. In Leviticus we read about the ‘Day of Atonement’ when the high priest entered the Holiest Place, and sprinkled blood of the sacrifice before the mercy seat.
The fullness of God’s mercy is offered in the birth of His Son, Jesus. Through the Paschal Mystery, Christ endured pain for our sins, and we received the mercy of God for the whole world. The gracious love of God and His mercy are inseparable, but there is a difference between mercy and grace. Mercy is God not punishing our sinfulness, and grace is God extending kindness to the unworthy. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” –Luke 6:36. These are powerful words! Our own expression of mercy can be witnessed in the kindness we give to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation. We face these circumstances daily with loved ones, or complete strangers. How often do you take the opportunity to be merciful like our Heavenly Father?
My 17-year service in prison ministry at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility was a great experience in witnessing the significance of God’s mercy in the lives of all people. The scriptures are lived out daily to all who are seeking God’s love – saints and sinners alike. We are blessed to have the greatest life coach and teacher in Jesus, who is our guide for this journey on earth. If we understand the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, the Beatitudes, the parables and all the teachings in the Gospels, we should be prepared to handle everything with love.
This month my husband, Dick, and I attended a reception in Louisville, Ky., to recognize the ministry offered by the Saint Luke Institute. This is a private, licensed mental health education and treatment facility primarily serving Roman Catholic priests and religious women and men. The merciful work accomplished through the efforts of clinicians and spiritual directors at this institution is beautiful. The counseling for clergy and religious serving our Catholic Church is an expression of love they so deserve for their lifetime commitment. The institute also provides candidate assessments, which give dioceses and religious orders insight into the psychological and spiritual health of the applicants for priesthood. This great gift prepares our next generation of priests before they enter seminary.
Our priests are with us at the most important times in our lives, they provide us with the beautiful healing Sacraments, as well as help for the difficult times we face as Christians. In life changing moments a priest is our pipeline to God’s grace and mercy. Where would we be without the healthy and happy gift of priesthood? In this “Jubilee Year of Mercy” please be supportive of the great work offered to the Church by the St. Luke Institute. Our prayers and monetary contributions give witness to the true mercy of God. You can donate at www.stlukecenter.org God gave us His only Son, and the life of Jesus gave us the priesthood. His mercy continues through the kindness of each one of us. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” –Matt. 5:7.
Jesus is counting on us! God bless your new year, may it be filled with the mercy of God! Amen!
