The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to make some steps on our journey to practice mercy through our care and generosity for those with whom we have a difficult relationship.
The reading from the Book of Daniel introduces the Seventy Weeks of Years as the prophet declares ‘Righteousness is on your side, O Lord, but open shame, as at this day, falls on us,’
* [9:2] Seventy years: Jeremiah was understood to prophesy a Babylonian captivity of seventy years, a round number signifying the complete passing away of the existing generation (Jer 25:11; 29:10). On this view Jeremiah’s prophecy was seen to be fulfilled in the capture of Babylon by Cyrus and the subsequent return of the Jews to Palestine. However, the author of Daniel, living during the persecution of Antiochus, extends Jeremiah’s number to seventy weeks of years (Dn 9:24), i.e., seven times seventy years, to encompass the period of Seleucid persecution. (Daniel, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Psalm 79 is a plea for Mercy for Jerusalem.
* [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Ps 79:1–4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Ps 79:5), pray for action now (Ps 79:6–7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:8–9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Ps 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Ps 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Ps 79:2–4, 11). (Psalms, PSALM 79, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches about judging others.
* [6:27–36] See notes on Mt 5:43–48 and Mt 5:48.
* [6:37–42] See notes on Mt 7:1–12; 7:1; 7:5. (Luke, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Michael Kavan comments that we can find a deeper understanding of what is meant by God’s mercy. In Misericordiae Vultus, Pope Francis reminds us how the visceral nature of mercy comes from a personal relationship Jesus promised to us based on forgiveness and love, reconciliation, and truth.
And finally, to follow Pope Francis’ words of his Youth Day letter when he wrote, “I ask you, then, to rediscover the corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, assist the sick, visit the imprisoned and bury the dead.” He continues by writing that “mercy does not just imply being a ‘good person’ nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus, and of our credibility as Christians in today’s world.” And as Luke reminds us, “the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Kavan, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The Practice of Mercy,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The practice of mercy is twofold: when vengeance is sacrificed and when compassion is shown. The Lord included both of these in his brief sentence: 'Forgive, and you shall be forgiven; give, and it shall be given to you.' This work has the effect of purifying the heart, so that, even under the limitations of this life, we are enabled with pure mind to see the immutable reality of God. There is something holding us back, which has to be loosed so that our sight may break through to the light. In connection with this the Lord said, 'Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you.' Therefore the next and sixth step is that cleansing of the heart." (excerpt from Letter 171A.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 6:36-38 notes that Pope St. John Paul II once said, “Jesus himself . . . is mercy” (Dives in Misericordia, 2).
God sent Jesus to earth so that we could see mercy in the flesh. May we always keep this picture of mercy close to our hearts so that we can become witnesses to the abundant, overflowing, and never-ending mercy of our heavenly Father!
“Jesus, you are mercy itself. Help me imitate both you and my heavenly Father by bringing your mercy into my most challenging relationships.” (Meditation on Luke 6:36-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the petition for mercy in the passage from the Book of Daniel that is needed for the people to move forward. We forgive those who hurt us in recognition of the needs they have in their brokenness. Friar Jude reminds us of our increase in ability to accept mercy when we open our hearts with mercy for others.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers some historical background on the practical actions that pilgrims had to take before they underwent a spiritual pilgrimage.
First of all, you had to make amends with everyone you had ever wronged. Also, if you went on pilgrimage holding any kind of unforgiveness, it could not be a good pilgrimage. You couldn’t leave your town until you’d forgiven everyone who’d ever wronged you. Certainly, this is an attitude that we can pray for at the beginning of any pilgrimage: that God would keep our hearts open and loving, because a pilgrimage can’t just be a tourist trip. The meaning of a pilgrimage is an interior journey. Primarily, it’s an interior journey enacted exteriorly. (Rohr, 2023)
We reflect on the mercy we have known as the Spirit invites us to open our hearts to the people in need of our care today.
References
Daniel, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/9?4
Kavan, M. (2023, March 6). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030623.html
Luke, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?
Meditation on Luke 6:36-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/06/626566/
Psalms, PSALM 79. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/79?8
Rohr, R. (2023, March 6). Pilgrims, Not Tourists — Center for Action and Contemplation. Cac.org. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/pilgrims-not-tourists-2023-03-06/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar6
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