Mercy
After considering the virtues, let us reflect on God's mercy and what he told St. Faustina, My daughter, do you think that you have written enough about My mercy? What you have written is but a drop compared to the ocean. I am Love and Mercy itself. There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted — it in-creases. The soul that trusts in My mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it (Diary, 1273).
Mercy is love that seeks to forgive, console, assist, and care for others in time of need. Mercy is an act of love done without expecting anything in return; it is done for love itself. Our Lord gave of Himself on Holy Thursday when He instituted the Most Blessed Sacrament; the Eucharist perpetuates this act of self-giving occurring daily on altars throughout the world.
Jesus made it clear in Sacred Scripture that love of God and neighbor is the greatest commandment: "But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, to test Him. 'Teacher, what is the great commandment in the law?' And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets' " (Mt 22: 34-40).
Our Lord wants us both to know of His unfathomable mercy, and to be merciful to others, as He is merciful to us. Jesus told Saint Faustina: Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy (Diary, 301).
Imagine the love and pity our Lord had for the repentant sinner Mary Magdalene. He read her heart and knew how penitent she was, much more so than the self-righteous Pharisees who thought that the Kingdom of God belonged to them because of their social status. "Because this people draws near with their mouths and honors Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me" (Is 29:13). And when we sin, He wants us to humble ourselves, coming back to Him, and asking for forgiveness. He told St. Faustina, The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy. My mercy is confirmed in every work of My hands. He who trusts in My mercy will not perish, for all his affairs are Mine, and his enemies will be shattered at the base of My footstool (Diary, 723).
The Lord wants us to return to Him with humility. "For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if you return to Him" (2 Chr 30:9). "Yet even now, says the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments" (Joel 2:12).
Many of us fall into a downhill spiral of sin and guilt, believing we could never be forgiven, let alone approach God because of our pathetic wretchedness and sinfulness. But Jesus shared meals with tax collectors and prostitutes, saying, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Lk 5:32). He told St. Faustina that He is ready to grant graces to souls, but few are willing to accept them:
My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy (Diary, 367).
And as in the parable of the prodigal son, the Lord will always take us back with open arms: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit" (Tit 3:4-5).
Can we love God without forgiving, loving, and being merciful to our neighbor? Scripture is clear on this, "If anyone says, 'I love God, ' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 Jn 5:20). We are to be merciful to others just as we are to ask for His mercy. "Be merciful even as your Father is merciful' (Lk 6:36). This can be accomplished in a number of ways. Saint Faustina wrote, "For there are three ways of performing an act of mercy: The merciful word, by forgiving and by comforting; secondly, if you can offer no word, then pray — that too is mercy; and thirdly, deeds of mercy" (Diary, 1158).
At any point in time, we may not be able to say a merciful word or perform a deed of mercy, but prayer is within the grasp of every soul. And when we perform deeds of mercy, we should strive to see Jesus in our fellow man. Saint Faustina recognized her shortcomings and prayed that she would be a reflection of His great mercy. She wrote:
Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue. Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moaning’s. Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all. Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks. Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor. Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.
(Diary, 163)
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The ministry of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy involves corporal works of mercy projects all over the world, and people often say to me, "I wish I could do such great things!" They marvel at the containers of medical supplies, wheelchairs, clothing, religious articles that we ship to the poorest of the poor And in many ways it is amazing. But most don't realize that it is the little things in life, done out of great love for God, that are most pleasing to Him. It is much easier to box children's shoes for Africa than it is to be merciful to a teenage son who is breaking every rule in the house! It is much easier to visit an unknown AIDS victim in the hospital than it is to be merciful to a pregnant unwed daughter. Few are called to travel to far away places and evangelize; but all are called to be witnesses and evangelists in our own family and workplace!
Many of us minimize the power of prayer and the spiritual works of mercy, fearing that they have not done enough corporal works of mercy. Jesus told St. Faustina:
I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy (Diary, 1317).
Many of us remember as children learning about the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The spiritual works call us to 1) admonish the sinner 2) instruct the ignorant 3) counsel the doubtful 4) comfort the sorrowful 5) bear wrongs patiently 6) forgive all injuries, and 7) pray for the living and the dead. The corporal works include 1) to feed the hungry 2) give drink to the thirsty 3) clothe the naked 4) ransom the captive 5) shelter the homeless 6) visit the sick, and 7) bury the dead. We should try to do at least one work of mercy every day.
As we heal from the battles of life and continue our spiritual journey, we must let others know of His unfathomable mercy. We are to be the light of the world, spreading the Good News of His great mercy. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven " (Mt 5:16). We must show love and mercy to all, not just those in our social class or to whom we will benefit socially or financially. "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:20). We should strive to comfort the hurting through corporal and spiritual works of mercy, reminding those in need that only He can bring true and lasting peace. We are to be the heart, hands and feet of Jesus, radiating the merciful love of The Divine Mercy to a hurting world.
O Lord, give us the courage to ask for Your mercy and strength to be merciful to others. Help us become a beacon with bright light, guiding others in an unsettled and troubled world back to You, who are Love and Mercy itself.