God is Always Faithful
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On Sunday we will chat about mercy.
What does it mean to be merciful as the Father is merciful? As the reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel suggests, it is about being generous and loyal. Daniel wrote: “Lord, great and awesome, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those people who love you and observe your commandments!” Daniel then proceeds to remind his audience that the Lord also keeps his merciful covenant with those people who rebel against God’s commandments and laws through sin, evil and wickedness. Of course – as we know from our own experience – there is something of both within each one of us, because each one obeys and disobeys God’s commandments. And still, for all that, God remains loyal to us in good times, in bad times and in all the times in between. God stands by us in all things. God loves us no matter what. God is, after all, “compassion and forgiveness.”
Of course, God’s mercy, generosity and fidelity come with some very high expectations. God’s forgiveness should lead us to practice compassion, not complacence. As God doesn’t judge us, so we should not judge others! As God doesn’t condemn us, so we should not condemn others! As God forgives us, so we should forgive others! As God gives to us, so we should give to others! The measure with which we measure to others should measure up to how generously God measures to us…in all kinds of times, places and situations!
Would you like to be “great and awesome” in the eyes of God? Then try to do your level best to be merciful to others today as God is clearly merciful to you!
We’ll be talking about living with God’s mercy during our chat session on Sunday. Here are some questions that will guild our reflection:
- How can we connect these words of Jesus with what St. Paul told Timothy: “The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself” (2Timothy 2:11-13)? Are these words contradictory or complementary?
- Especially pertinent for this season of Lent, how can we consider this reflection in light of what Jesus says after being accused of dining with tax collectors and sinners: “Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)?
- Ultimately our faith is about union with God. If we have separated ourselves from God through sin how can these words from Psalm 51:16-17 take on a deeper meaning? — “For you take no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”
- God’s mercy is measured in that He gave us His only Son: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). What should this teach us about how much mercy we are to offer to others?
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