Mercy

Mercy is a recurring theme in my life right now. For instance, today I sat down to do my devotional time and accidentally read next week's readings instead of today's. Yeah. I've been reading next week all week. The theme for next Thursday (spoiler alert!) is mercy. I only discovered the mishap when I pulled them up online to provide links for my blog. Whoops.

Yesterday, I was notified that someone had linked to one of my posts on Adoption.com, this one from Lent called "Bearing Wrongs Patiently." I reread the post and remembered how much we got out of that experience and vowed to re-run it this year.

All of this of course led me to wonder where there is a lack of mercy in my life. It didn't take long. The real question is where is there not a lack of mercy? "Mercy" is an easy thing to agree with and a challenging way of life. It's easier, often, to be judgmental, impatient, and unforgiving. That's what the world teaches, right? "Every man for himself" is the motto of the day and consensus consciousness agrees. The "me culture" of the 1970s is the one I grew up in and it is hard to overcome. "Self first and self foremost" is "normal."

Mercy is something else altogether. According to the Catechism,
The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead.  (2447)

The Corporal Works of  Mercy are definitely easier for me than the Spiritual Works of Mercy. I am quick to judge and slow to notice. The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5, has lots to say about this. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy" (5:7) is just a starting point. I could write a treatise on the many teachings on mercy in this one chapter alone. In fact, since I have apparently already read all of next week's readings (duh!), I will dedicate next week's devotional time to just that, a small treatise on mercy as expressed in Matthew, Chapter 5.

Can you tell I'm working on fulfilling one of my New Year's resolutions? In particular, I'm working on the one to do with relationships, "Love with passion, live with forgiveness." Sometimes the words need wheels on them! Stay tuned . . .

PS - Please share with me your favorite thoughts or expressions on the subject of mercy.

Something from Nothing

St. Robert Bellarmine speaks often of how God made "something from nothing" when he created us. Thus, Tuesdays' gospel, the Feeding of the Five Thousand, stood out to me.

Jesus, who had already been sent as "expiation for our sins" also managed to demonstrate to us that God -- and God alone -- can make something of nothing. It is a tremendous encouragement to me!

This little offering I have, this little bit that I fear is not enough, actually is something. It is a couple of measly fish and some tired loaves of bread but it is something. God can use my offering and multiply it as he chooses.

My part is not to judge it or belittle it or even to grow it, only to give it freely, fully and without reservation. I always want to complicate things -- to do more, to be more -- but it's not complicated. I offer what I have because that is how we love one another.

"Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God."

Love loud! Today is the day.