Measured by mercy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today show that mercy and forgiveness are essential experiences of our relationship with God.

Source https://orthodoxwiki.org/images/0/0a/Agioipaides.jpg

The Book of Daniel presents the prayer of Azariah for deliverance from the fiery furnace.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures.

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus uses a parable to underline the forgiveness we know from God is to be extended to others.

* [18:22] Seventy-seven times: the Greek corresponds exactly to the LXX of Gn 4:24. There is probably an allusion, by contrast, to the limitless vengeance of Lamech in the Genesis text. In any case, what is demanded of the disciples is limitless forgiveness.

Joe Zaborowski finds that mercy is the juxtaposition of today’s readings.

We are called in Lent during our times of prayer and contemplation to review our own repentance. For me this starts with myself first. Knowing the ultimate act of mercy which is fulfilled on Good Friday, I must look at my own life and review if my actions with others is Christ like or am I an Ungrateful Servant. Have I been there, fences to mend in my family, at work or with friends? Am I showing enough mercy to my neighbors as a whole? Have I remembered the hungry, the lonely, the impoverished, the imprisoned, the naked or the strangers in my community at this penitential time in the Church year?  As a follower of Christ, if not now during Lent, then when?

The Prayer of Azariah is known as the Prayer of the Three Holy Children in the Orthodox Tradition.

The song constitutes a hymn of thanksgiving to God for deliverance from the fiery furnace into which the three young men, Ananias, Azarias and Misael (also known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) had been cast by the Persian king Nebuchadnezzar. They were cast into the furnace for refusing to worship a golden idol that Nebuchadnezzar had created. However, an Angel of the Lord entered the furnace and protected the three young men. In liturgical practice, the event is seen to presage the Resurrection of Christ, thus its inclusion in the canon.

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D. who advises a daily remedy for our sins.

"Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. Let us say this sentence with sincerity, because it is an alms in itself. Sins that oppress and bury us cannot be termed trifles! What is more minute than drops of rain? Yet they fill the rivers. What is more minute than grains of wheat? Yet they fill the barns. You note the fact that these sins are rather small, but you do not take note that there are many of them. In any case, God has given us a daily remedy for them." (excerpt from Sermon 205,1)

Friar Jude Winkler parses the Prayer of Azariah who is asking for help by reminding God of His mercy. He declares God is great! God’s greatness is measured by His mercy. The commentary on the parable on mercy reminds us that that those with more gifts are required to be more attentive to the exercise of mercy towards others.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, starts with words of the great Doctor of the Church, Thomas Aquinas: “Grace does not destroy nature, but perfects it.” as his reflection challenges us to be merciful towards nature wherein we can connect with a universe centered on God.

How could humans think we were the only or even the main event? Not only did we think that the Earth was the center of the universe; we were certain our human species was the only one that God really cared about. All of creation was just a stage set for the human drama. Normally that is called narcissism. We extracted the soul from everything else. Nature was simply here for our utilitarian purpose, to be used for our consumption. With this belief system, we entered into a state of profound alienation from our own surroundings. We no longer belonged to this world because there was nothing worth belonging to. It was no longer naturally sacred, deserving our reverence or respect. We could rape, plunder, and misuse the earth. We could torture animals and destroy ecosystems because we thought they had no inherent value. We acted as though we were fully in charge.

Spirituality doesn’t depend on education or belief. It almost entirely depends on our capacity for simple presence.

References


(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 6, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3

(n.d.). Matthew 18:18. Retrieved March 6, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/matthew18.htm

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 6, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 6, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 6, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/