Humankind is made in the image and likeness of God. We have in us an in-built spark of God’s very being and hence we can surely say that God, whose other name is MERCY has also implanted in our being a bountiful store of His Mercy. And this is manifested largely in the actions and relationships towards others.
Our God is a God of Mercy and Love. The inspiration I receive when reading the Bible is manifold. Right through the Bible the predominant message one receives is MERCY. Even when Adam and Eve failed the Lord, God promised that he would send one who will crush the head of the evil one. When God sent rain to destroy the sinful earth, Noah’s ark would protect the good. But when God saw the deaths of so many and the destruction of the universe, God relented and sent a rainbow as a covenant that He would never again destroy the earth by water. When God wanted to destroy Sodom with fire for the wickedness of the people, Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy the place with fire and brim stone if there were at least 50 good men in Sodom and God agreed to his proposal, but God could not find even 10 good people there. In spite of it God wanted to save Lot’s family and the angel took them by force away from Sodom. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for her disobedience and curiosity.
God loved David and gave him victory in all his pursuits. Even when he disobeyed the commandments, God forgave him for the acts of murder, and usurping his soldier’s wife. But when he had won all the battles and in a spirit of great pride wanted his people to be numbered, to see how great he was Joab dissuaded him but finally acquiesced to the demand. Then David’s heart smote within him and asked God to punish him. God asked which of the three punishments he would choose – to be chased by his foes for three months or three years of famine or three days of pestilence. He chose the third, as he said that falling into the hands of men or to experience famine for all his people would be horrible but to be attacked by pestilence would be the best, because the Lord is full of Mercy and falling into his Hands would be the safest, for when he cried for Mercy, God’s Mercy is great and will readily flow.
When the time was ripe, God sent his only Son, knowing full well what kind of a death he would suffer out of love for us. During His life on earth we see him healing, driving away demons out of tortured persons, bringing the dead to life. To the disciples he said ‘I have compassion on the multitude. They have been three days with me, give them food or they may faint on the way. To the woman caught in the act of adultery, he asked ‘Has no one condemned you? I too will not condemn you.’ From the Cross His first words were: ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ To the thief on his right he said ‘This day you will be with me in Paradise.’ Peter is the limit when he asked Jesus how many times he should forgive – ‘7 times?’ Jesus said to Him, ‘Seventy times seven times’. It means countless times and then He illustrates with a parable, Mat: 18: 12 – 35.
People the world over have received the Holy Father’s message that this year: 8 December 2015 to November 20, 2016 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception to the Feast of Christ the King) is declared ‘the Year of Mercy’. They were filled with joy and hope as they would encounter God whose other name is Mercy, in the sacrament of Penance.
Pope Benedict XVI: known as the Pope of Mercy opened the first ever World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Rome and called the participants to go forth and be witnesses of God’s Mercy.
Pope John Paul II observed, ‘Mary experienced Mercy in an exceptional way as no one else did – God bestowed on her the grace of the Immaculate Conception.’
Pope Francis entrusted the Jubilee year to the Mother of Mercy and our Mother. At the Inaugural Mass the Pope said ‘to pass through the open door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them. The Angel Gabriel told an astonished young girl of the mystery which was about to enfold her ‘Hail, full of grace’ The holy Virgin was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord had accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. The fullness of grace can transform the human heart and ennoble it to do something so great as to change the course of human history. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the grandeur of God’s love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary He averts the original sin, present in every man and woman who comes into the world. This is the love of God which presides, anticipates and saves.
Pope Francis and his brother Jesuits in Rome have converted an old Travel Agency Building into a new shelter for homeless men, just in time for the cold winter months. The new dormitory is called ‘Gift of Mercy’, because Mercy is ‘Love’s second name’. The initiative is a response to Pope Francis’ call to the faithful to care for the poor and the homeless.
A quote from The New Leader mentions: Our Lord is the Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother also known as the Mother of Mercy is the created master piece of Divine Mercy. Be merciful like the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn, but to give love and forgiveness without measure. Our Parishes and communities are islands of Mercy, in the midst of the sea of indifference.
Sister Mary Faustina was asked by the Lord to encourage souls with whom she comes in contact to trust in His Infinite Mercy. Mercy is the greatest attributes of God. All the works of my hands are crowned with Mercy. The theme Mercy has taken special significance in the life of the Pope and his spiritual journey. The Holy Father chose: ‘Miserando Atque Eligenda’ ‘by His Mercy He has chosen me’. Called to be renewed by God’s Mercy He has chosen me. Let the life of Jesus enable us to transform our own lives and be agents of Mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.
We have ample instances of persons who have shown mercy to those who hurt them. We have the beautiful example in Mrs. Gladys Staines who on hearing of her husband’s and two little sons’ being burnt alive while they were sleeping for the night in their wagon is a telling story of Mercy for the first words she uttered on hearing the horrendous news were: ‘I forgive them.’ This year her name figures in the list of ‘The Mother Teresa’s Peace Prize.’ Sister Rani Maria’s brutal death for the good work she did for the poor much to the animosity of the rich coal miners and the murder of Sister Valsa are heart-chilling and yet the family forgave the culprits. We can cite numerous instances of forgiving in the lives of people especially those who faced the horrible treatment in Nazi camps and the Islamic terrorism.
Here is an instance which needs to be noted with admiration.
A Court room scene: A frail black woman in South Africa stood slowly to her feet. Facing her were several white police officers, one of whom is Mr. Van Der Broek. He had come to the woman’s house, taken her son, shot and burnt his body, on the fire while he and his officers partied together. Several years later the same officer and his security police colleagues had returned to take her husband, bound and beaten and still alive, strong in spirit, lying on a pile of wood. The last words she heard from him, as the officer poured gasoline over him and set him on fire, were; ‘Father, forgive them’. Now, the woman stood in the court room and listened to the confessions offered by Van Der Broek. A member of the “South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission” turned to her and asked: ‘So, what do you want? How should justice be done to this man who has so brutally destroyed your family? She responded, ‘I want three things. (1) I want to be taken to the place where my husband‘s body was burnt, so that I can gather up the dust and give it a decent burial. 2. My husband and son were my only family. I want therefore Mr. Van der Broek to become my son. I would like him to come twice a month to the ghetto and spend a day with me, so that I can pour out on him whatever love I still have in me. And thirdly I want him to know that I have forgiven him as my husband desired it. So, I want someone to lead me to him to take him into my arms to embrace him and let him know that he is truly forgiven.’ Van der Broek on hearing this fainted and all who had come to witness the trial sang: Amazing Grace.
As a child I had heard: Let not the sun set on your anger. Forgive and ask for forgiveness before you go to sleep. It was also said (in Konkani) those who eat from the same pot will never keep anger; the message came out clear and direct – forgive. Though we were a family of 8, + grandmother, aunt and her two children with a few boarders, we totaled 13 in number. While the older folk went for daily Mass, the younger roamed about the compound picking up or plucking edible fruits; this not limited to the confines of our compound, but stealing into the neighbors compounds too! (There were no children there)- and they did the same! But the beauty was, they displayed it to all of us and cut them into small pieces, and saw that everyone got a piece. There was much love in this act of sharing. Mutual understanding kept us all in love. Understanding and over-looking and forgiving each other were a very part of us.
My life’s experiences often take me back to my days in my early Religious life. I had heard about living in an attitude of forgiveness. I did not take any hurt seriously and forgave readily, for a Junior sister, life and work were simple. Later, I had heard about Superiors being ‘sounding boards’ – to hear, listen and not respond harshly to anything that is said to show that they were not hurt; so the sister would go with the satisfaction of having aired out her grievances. As years passed and assignments of Headmistress and Superior were entrusted to my care, there were times when I fought an inner battle to be more understanding, forgiving and being merciful. Others found me patient, forgiving and diplomatic.
I experienced trying instances that hurt me; I was conscious that I had to forgive and repeated to myself that I forgive. I did not avoid any person who hurt me but there were silent tears to compensate to show that my ego was hurt and searched for reasons within myself to compensate for my feelings. I was hurt, but not for others to see. I still feel when others deal harshly and use offensive words, which I cannot erase so easily from my mind but, I forgive and do as though nothing affects me. So is the remark that I am diplomatic.
Sister Stanislas A.C.
St. Agnes Convent, Mangaluru
