Year C 23/2/2025
Jesus makes a radical call for mercy when he says: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)
It will be helpful to heed the words of Henri Nouwen who said that we are not separate from the events that make up the news each day. Rather, what we see and hear in the news each day simply reflects what is going on inside each of us. When we see instances of injustice, bigotry, racism, greed, violence, murder and war on the news we rightly feel a certain moral indignation. It is healthy to feel that way, but it is not healthy to naively think that it is others, not us, who are the problem. This week Jesus wants to help us see that we can be part of the solution and an important part at that.
Mercy is not an option; it is a fundamental element at the heart of discipleship. But, when we hear Jesus asking us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, turn the other cheek; we might well wonder if Jesus is asking too much from us?
The world generally teaches us to seek justice, to return harm for harm and to stand up for ourselves. However, Jesus is not of this world. He calls us to something far greater. Despite what people may think or say, Jesus is not teaching us to be weak; he is teaching us to use his divine strength, which gives us the ability to love beyond our human limits.
It would be good to imagine what the world would look like, if we truly lived this Gospel, given the wars, the abuse of power, and the loss of so many innocent lives we experience today. Life would be so different if we only forgave before being asked and gave without expecting repayment. To respond to hatred with a blessing is not an impossible dream; it is possible through the very life of God in us!
Jesus is not asking us to do anything other than what he has already done himself. On the cross, he turned the other cheek, he prayed for his enemies and poured out mercy on those who mocked him. He now invites us to do the same.
Do not think that mercy means that we should ignore justice, far from it. However, it does mean that we should be ready to go beyond justice. Justice in the view of the world says, ‘You hurt me, so you must pay’ whereas mercy says, ‘You hurt me, but I choose to love you anyway’. Justice is necessary, but mercy transforms. It changes hearts. As a result, mercy little by little helps change the world for the better.
Today and in the week ahead ask yourself: Who in my life needs mercy? Who have I been unwilling to forgive? Who have I been avoiding instead of loving? And step by step begin to show them acts of kindness, pray for the ability to forgive and you will begin to love in the way that the Father has called us to love others. This may well not happen all at once but we can make the journey with small steps knowing that each step will bring us closer to our goal.
When we finally stand before God, we will not be judged by how fiercely we defended ourselves, but by how deeply we have loved, especially those who have been specially challenging to us throughout our lives. And remember that Jesus also said "Give, and it will be given to you... For the measure you use will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38).
by Fr Thomas O'BRIEN a.a
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