The Quality of Mercy

For Friday of Week 19 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63; Responsorial = Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Matthew 19:3-12

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Some Pharisees came to test him...” Matthew 19:3

How should we minister to the divorced and re-married?

First, by acknowledging that “not everyone can accept this teaching” but only those who live on the level of God. Jesus says, “Let anyone accept this who can” (compare Matthew 19:16-26).

Second, by showing God’s mercy to those who cannot. Oikonomia tolerates people breaking laws they cannot observe, if what they are doing is not intrinsically evil. Jesus did not come for the strong, but to have mercy on the weak. Eucharist is the “Bread of sinners” to strengthen those who are “falling short” (Matthew 9:10).

The truth is, we all fall short. The New Law calls it “adultery” to even look at a woman with lust. We fail as Christians if we are angry or un-reconciled with anyone, resist anyone who hits us, sues us, or imposes on our time; or if we refuse anyone who begs or wants to borrow from us.

The New Law requires us to dedicate everything we have to help the poor; love our enemies, pray for those who oppress us; and love one another as Jesus himself loves us (read Matthew 6; 19:21; Luke 14:33; John 13:34).

In short, we have to “be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect”.

We give Communion to soldiers, lawyers, bankers, stingy employers and hardnosed executives. So why pick on the divorced?

PRAY: “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”

PRACTICE: Before all else, be merciful.