As Jesus heals the leper in the Gospel of Luke, we witness the profound compassion of the Lord, who longs for our TOTAL healing – body, mind, heart and soul. May we draw near to Christ for this healing and in turn seek to be agents of healing whenever possible.
Mass Readings – Friday after Epiphany
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The Psalm response reminds us that our hope is not founded in our strength, our wealth or our abilities…it is founded upon the mercy of God. May this mercy give us the wisdom to turn to the Lord for our needs this day!
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 30th Week of the Year
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Study: Consider a time when you experienced mercy. What did it feel like?
Pray: Are you struggling to be merciful to someone right now? Ask the Lord for help!
Serve: Is there an act of mercy you can do for someone in need today? How can you make it happen?
Mass Readings – 30th Sunday of the Year
The readings this Sunday could have been chosen for the Year of Mercy. Take a look:
As Pope Francis constantly reminds us, the name of God is Mercy. Jesus shows us repeated examples of the mercy and love of the Father, inviting us to both receive God’s grace and then live with mercy toward one another.
It’s a simple message, direct and to the point. Yet we know from our own experience how hard it can be to practice mercy in our world today! We suffer injury, offense, misunderstanding and hassle in our daily interactions with one another. People get under our skin. We get angry. We lose our focus.
And thus this simple message continues to speak to our hearts, heal our souls, and guide us into the grace that comes when we foster forgiveness and pursue peace. Mercy is a practical application of the Great Commandment to love one another; mercy becomes our homework for holiness by which we put the example of Jesus into our own daily practice.
God’s mercy washes us clean and heals the wounds caused by sin. As we seek the Lord’s mercy in our lives, may we allow this gift of mercy to move through us and touch the lives of those we meet.
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
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Note: This post was first published on October 17, 2016.
The Letter to the Romans is a powerful expression of St. Paul’s thought. In this passage we discover the danger of judging others and glossing over our own sins. Rather, we acknowledge our need for the Savior and embrace the grace of the Cross.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 28th Week of the Year
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The interaction between Jesus and the woman in the Gospel of Luke reveals the healing power of God’s love when we receive the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 24th Week of the Year
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Study: Recall a time when you experienced a moment of profound forgiveness. How did it change you?
Pray: Are you holding on to anger and resentment? Pray for God’s mercy to soften your heart.
Serve: Is there someone you know in need of mercy? Is there some way you can help others, especially when they are caught up in shame, embarrassment, or the awkwardness of their weaknesses and sins?
Mass Readings – 24th Sunday of the Year
We hear in the Gospel of Luke the familiar parable of the The Prodigal Son. It’s worth a moment to touch on a few key points from this passage:
What a powerful parable! In our daily lives the need for forgiveness is so compelling that it is vital to dwell on the divine mercy of God and recall our need to return to the Lord in our moments of weakness and sin.
Like both brothers in the parable, we all sin and fall short of God’s grace; yet like the brothers, we also have a Father who loves and welcomes us whenever we seek to turn back. Both brothers could speak to their Father – in either humility or anger – and the Father responds to both with tenderness.
Today I would like to suggest two key points for our reflection in the light of this passage:
God longs to welcome us back, and when we can humbly embrace our mistakes and sins we discover a grace beyond anything imaginable. May we have the courage to examine our hearts and return to the Lord – the source of all mercy.
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Note: This post was first published on September 5, 2016.
If you find these posts helpful for your spiritual life:
Jesus Christ knows our hearts – the good, the bad and the ugly – and he offers mercy through his sacrifice on the Cross that we might have life. Take his hand!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 22nd Week of the Year
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Calling, Yongsung Kim, Oil on Canvas.
