Reflection: Mercy is a common theme in today’s Christian
life. God is merciful – we have been
taught this from our youth. God, in His
great mercy, sent His Son to die for our sins so that we might have eternal
life. God, in His great mercy, continues
to forgive us when we lead lives unworthy of His forgiveness. God is so merciful, and we have come to take
that mercy for granted.
But today, the lesson of the Gospel is not about God’s
mercy, but about the fact that we are to be merciful. Jesus tells us to be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Now those earlier words regarding God’s mercy
are a bit less relieving, and a lot more challenging. Jesus expects us to be merciful unto others just
like God is to us. This means we have to
die to ourselves and live outside of what is easy. Mercy means we have to be patient with others
when they are frustrating us. Mercy
means we have to serve our family when we would rather be concerned about what
we would like to be doing. Mercy means
we have to forgive others who wrong us. And
mercy even means we have to forgive them again (and again) when they do the
exact same thing to us again (and again).
That is being merciful, and that is what Jesus calls us to, and expects
from us.
Reflection
for younger saints: God
loves us and forgives us every time we sin and break His commandments. Today God tells us that we are to do the same
for our family, friends, and neighbors.
We are to love and forgive others just as God loves and forgives
us. This is not always easy, but helps
us to be more like Jesus in our lives.
Big
Picture: Be merciful
as your Father is merciful
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: What does it mean to be merciful? (To be kind to someone else and to forgive someone else, especially when they are not being nice to you.) Are your parents merciful to you? Do you think you should be merciful to others?
Older saints: Do you have someone in your life that you have failed to forgive. Step outside yourself today and offer them your love and your forgiveness. If you have younger siblings, how can you be merciful to them? How can you be merciful to people who you don’t get along with? How can you be merciful to your parents?
Younger saints: What does it mean to be merciful? (To be kind to someone else and to forgive someone else, especially when they are not being nice to you.) Are your parents merciful to you? Do you think you should be merciful to others?
Older saints: Do you have someone in your life that you have failed to forgive. Step outside yourself today and offer them your love and your forgiveness. If you have younger siblings, how can you be merciful to them? How can you be merciful to people who you don’t get along with? How can you be merciful to your parents?
Fun
Fact: We obtain
grace through prayer and the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist (St.
Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism No. 1, 2008, p. 50).
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Tarasius
What they are remembered for: St. Tarasius was elected to a high office in service of the emperor, but as a result of his turning away from idolatry and his refusal to grant a divorce to the emperor, his relationship was tarnished. St. Tarasius worked tirelessly for the poor and devoted his life to prayer, service to others, and reforming the Church toward greater holiness.
Feast day: February 25
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Tarasius
What they are remembered for: St. Tarasius was elected to a high office in service of the emperor, but as a result of his turning away from idolatry and his refusal to grant a divorce to the emperor, his relationship was tarnished. St. Tarasius worked tirelessly for the poor and devoted his life to prayer, service to others, and reforming the Church toward greater holiness.
Feast day: February 25
Daily Notes:
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