How much mercy do you want?

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
March 9, 2010

Today's Saint: Frances of Rome
Pray for unbelieving spouses:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/FrancisRome.htm

Today's Readings:
Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Ps 25:4-9
Matt 18:21-35
http://www.usccb.org/nab/030910.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_03_09.mp3

How much mercy do you want?

Giving forgiveness is necessary for receiving forgiveness, Jesus says in today's Gospel reading. We need to take an honest look at the areas of unforgiveness that we're still holding onto, so that we can let go of them and open ourselves fully to God's mercy.

Do you think God cannot or will not forgive a particular sin you've committed? Do you repeatedly confess the same past sin in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, even though you haven't repeated the sin itself? If so, you're holding a grudge against yourself and you're closing yourself off from the mercy God's already giving to you.

Do you hate yourself for your sinfulness and failures? Are you jealous of those who seem holier or better than you? Then you're not being merciful toward yourself, and God's mercy cannot touch you, although you long for it.

Do you think God isn't forgiving the sins of those who have hurt you the most? Are you quick to complain about others? Is your anger interfering with a joyful, holy life? Then you're holding grudges. Righteous anger focuses on the injustices of sin and hopes for the sinner's repentance; sinful anger focuses on revenge and retaliation and hopes for the sinner's demise.

Forgiveness doesn't mean condoning a sin, nor does it mean permitting the sin to continue. Choosing to forgive (it's a decision, not a feeling) is a spiritual un-corking of our hearts so that unforgiveness no longer blocks the love that's trying to get in. Either we're clogged up with grudges and fear or we're open to giving and receiving love. Giving love to those who aren't loving us frees us to receive God's perfect love, which is infinitely greater.

St. Peter Chrysologus said: "If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery .... You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others."

If we want God's mercy after we sin, we have to give mercy whenever someone sins against us. If we refuse to give mercy to others – if we complain rather than reach out with love, if we seek revenge instead of offering to help – we're not open to God's mercy.

God never denies us his love; he cares all the time, no matter what! But for us to receive mercy, we have to be a bottle with a hole at both ends – God's mercy flows out of us to others so that more mercy can flow into us.

John Paul II offered this prayer for you during his papacy: "May Christ's followers ... abound in works of mercy; may they be compassionate towards all, that they themselves may obtain indulgence and forgiveness from You" (Dives in Misericordia – "The Mercy of God").

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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