GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 13TH MARCH 2017
MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
FIRST READING: Daniel 9:4-10
PSALM: Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13
GOSPEL: Luke 6:36-38
THEME: BE MERCIFUL
One of the thought-provoking sermons I have heard on mercy so far was one given by a six-year old boy. It was a one-sentence sermon. He said, “mercy is sharing my ice-cream with the one who broke my pencil.” It may not have been a text-book explanation of mercy but it encapsulates what mercy is all about.
The statement of Jesus in our Gospel text, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36), follows immediately after an elaborate teaching on love of enemies (Lk 6:27-35). Jesus had told his disciples to turn the other cheek to those who slap them and not to refuse their tunics to those who take their cloaks away. He then summarised all that he had said with the expression, “Be merciful…” By this statement, Jesus redefines holiness. Holiness is not separating oneself from the ungodly and the ‘impure’; rather it is engaging the world with the virtue of mercy.
Mercy goes beyond putting up a nice face with smiles. It is not a fleeting sentiment. Mercy expresses itself concretely in actions. Often it is sweet to receive but sour to give it. As someone rightly said, “Mercy is when you have every right to crush a person but you choose to spare him or her.” It quenches the fire of revenge in us and makes us appear vulnerable.
Mercy did not end with the year of mercy. It is a virtue meant to be lived every day. As we go about relating with people, may we keep in mind the truth inherent in the statement, “Whoever acts without mercy will be judged without mercy but mercy can afford to laugh at judgement” (James 2:13 ). A little mercy each day brightens the world.
PRAYER: Eternal Father, you have been merciful to me on countless occasions. Help me to step out in faith and show mercy to others without counting the cost. For the sake of Christ, I pray. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).