Mercy is not a trending topic among conversations and in social media compared to brands of cars, fashion, food, business, money, travel or fame among others. Though not very popular in our secular world, yet mercy constantly knocks at the door of every heart to have compassion for the poor and suffering whom the secular society turns with a blind eye. There’s bitterness and emotional breakdown in one’s unmerciful heart but there’s peace and healing when we sincerely forgive from the heart. Forgiveness, however, is not easy, and God knows it, that’s why we need His help. He said, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened up for you. (Mt. 7:7). When Peter asked the Lord whether seven times is enough to forgive an erring brother or sister, Jesus said; “ Not seven times, but seventy times seven times, ” ( Mt. 18:12) indicating that there’s no limit for forgiveness. Forgiveness can build you up and heal you. Some people can easily forgive while others cannot even till their lifetime. It’s easy to advise an offended party to forgive with pious toppings, but if you’re the one concerned or if the situation strikes right in your family, the picture turns totally different. Easier said than done so they say.
It was a shocking surprise to the wife when her husband came back home after leaving her and their son for another woman. At first, there were flurry of invectives and harsh words, but forgiveness stopped the arguments and healing slowly set in. The son, however, remained adamant and bitter. He represents the older brother and us in some sense in the parable of the Prodigal Son who refused to understand his father and forgive his brother.
Someone came up to me with a heavy heart because of her harsh and mean attitude towards her Mother. Now that she is gone, she is tormented with so much remorse and regret and no amount of tears could turn back the time when she could have treated her Mom with mercy and kindness despite her misgivings and short comings. “She is my Mom, no matter what, “ she tearfully ventilated her painful emotion.
Before it’s too late, show your love to your parents with utmost care and respect while they’re still around and don’t wait for the time when guilt will heavily pound your conscience day and night for your failure in doing so. Regret always come last and never first.
Each of us is given by God great opportunities to make our life happy, meaningful and productive but we sabotage it with abuse and neglect of our health and worst of all by putting God last in our priorities and not sharing our blessings.
Mercy is when one forgives and cares for the hungry and the homeless. Mercy is when insult and embarrassment are not dealt with revenge but with patience. Mercy must lead to forgiveness and healing. If you did something terribly wrong, repent and implore God for forgiveness and forgive yourself too. No one is perfect, but we can rise up from our imperfections to be a better person.
Someone said, that a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. Beauty has nothing to do with looks. It is how you are as a person and how you make others feel about themselves. It is easy to judge but more difficult to understand with compassion and patience. By judging others we separate ourselves from them, by understanding, we grow. Make a habit of shutting down conversations that aim to destroy others down. Love the people who saw you when you were invisible to everyone. When you get, give, when you learn share. Amen on that folks!!
St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words; “The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death.” (Diary 754).
Pray the Divine Mercy every 3 p.m. Daily recite the Chaplet of Mercy and the Holy Rosary for peace in our families and throughout the world.