The Mercy Of God Dwells In Us All

We were created to be the presence of God’s mercy to each other.

[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”1632530821″ locale=”us” height=”375″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IB17uFsIL.jpg” width=”249″]In announcing the extraordinary year of mercy Pope Francis shared his vision of Mercy. He said we need to constantly contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is the wellspring of joy, serenity and peace. Our salvation depends on it.

He describes mercy as the ultimate act by which God comes to meet us. The fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life; on the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness and our wretchedness.

To contemplate the mystery of mercy is to contemplate the truth that every person is made in the image and likeness of God. Each of us is an icon of the Living and Merciful God. And created in His image and likeness, we all have the capacity to be merciful. We were created to be the very presence of God’s mercy in our world that is so desperately in need of mercy. This means that God’s mercy dwells in the heart of every person without exception. We are obliged to look upon every person we encounter; regardless of their colour, creed, class, or religion with the love and the mercy of God.

When we see every person with love and mercy, we affirm the dignity of every person. We strive to live in peace with all people. We do not see race or culture or nationality, wealth or lack thereof, language, gender, or any sin that anyone has committed, or may be living in; as barriers to love of God and neighbour. With love and mercy in our hearts, we are able to bridge our differences through dialogue. This by no means suggest the watering down of the gospel nor the truth about sin and the price that was paid to ransome us all from sin. Rather it is an admittance that through God’s mercy, though all of us are sinners, we can experience His eternal love through renouncing our sins and accepting his Son Jesus Christ.

The responsorial psalm for today, Thursday the 10th of December tell us, ”The Lord is kind and merciful slow to anger and rich in mercy.” We need to take these words to heart and reflect on where and to whom we need to be kind and merciful, slow to give into anger and rich in compassion. It is when we do this that our efforts will guarantee greater joy serenity and peace for our world.