Grace and Mercy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess the limits we place in our response with mercy to the people and situations that bring us an opportunity to extend grace to others. 

"While still a long way off"

The Reading from the Prophet Micah is a prayer that God will care for the people as in ancient days.

* [7:14–17] A prayer that God will care for the people as in ancient days (v. 14) is answered (vv. 15–17) when the Lord promises to do marvelous things. The nations shall be afraid and turn to the Lord.

* [7:18–20] The final lines of the book contain a hymn of praise for the incomparable God, who pardons sin and delights in mercy. Thus the remnant, those left after the exile, is confident in God’s compassion and in the ancient promises sworn to the ancestors. (Micah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 103 praises God for personal benefits and mercy toward all the people.

* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents The Parable of the Lost Son.

* [15:1–32] To the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:1–7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Mt 18:12–14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Lk 15:8–10; the prodigal son, Lk 15:11–32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner. (Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner comments that too often, she judges herself and others by making comparisons and ranking who is best and who needs work. Who is deserving and who is not. God loves each of us for the person we are right now, with our warts, our sins, our challenges. The road to forgiveness is always there, as it was for the prodigal son. Even if we get lost along the way, we can still find our way back. The door is open.

I often feel that I don’t measure up, that I am broken, but I am reminded that God wants me to come as I am. The door is open, and love is always there. I know God wants me to feel that love and then pass that along. To be the older brother and celebrate the return of the prodigal son. I know I will still struggle with the what-about-me, but I can work on letting go of those comparisons and rankings. I pray that my heart can be open and loving, to celebrate others as I know God the Father celebrates me. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Life through death,” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Did you make it possible for yourselves to merit God's mercy because you turned back to him? If you hadn't been called by God, what could you have done to turn back? Didn't the very One Who called you when you were opposed to Him make it possible for you to turn back? Don't claim your conversion as your own doing. Unless He had called you when you were running away from Him, you would not have been able to turn back." (Commentary on Psalm 84, 8) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Micah the idea is presented that Israel will be able to shepherd flocks in the lands of the pagans as a restoration. The strength of God is measured in forgiveness and compassion. These are not weak virtues but require strength especially when undeserved. The idea of sin as contagion is held among the religious leaders of Israel and Jesus tells of the “Prodigal”, meaning generous, father who has compassion as one who undeservedly forgives. Consider the rudeness of seeking inheritance before the father dies. Friar Jude wonders when the son goes to father to ask for forgiveness, is he really sorry or is he seeking food from the father? Jewish custom would have allowed the father to be less forgiving but the father is waiting to forgive in true mercy without evidence of true contrition. The elder brother is upset and maybe self-interested in his diminishing inheritance. Friar Jude reminds us that God rejoices when sinners return. He is just waiting like the Prodigal Father.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 invites us to look again at the father. Yes, he embraces his long-lost son and throws a party for him. But right away he notices his other son’s absence and goes looking for him. He pleads with him to join the celebration. He listens patiently as the son expresses his anger and disgust. But then he urges him to soften his heart. He assures him, “You are here with me always; everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). He insists on speaking of his younger son as “your brother” (15:32), urging his older son to seize the good and join the joy.

Whether you identify with the older son or the younger son, God is inviting you to come to him and join the feast at his table. Whether you’ve wandered far from your heavenly Father and are returning or you have served him for years, he is inviting you to join him in the rejoicing.

“Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Where would I be without it?” (Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces writer and activist adrienne maree brown who connects our ability to practice restorative justice to our individual capacity for resilience in the face of harm. We cannot practice collectively what we have not practiced in our own lives and personal relationships.

Your work is to break the cycle of punishment in any room you hold….

Restoration can be a transformative, healing act in a community…. Transformative justice is a way of moving into accountability, deepening relationship, clarifying boundaries, and opening the way for more collective possibilities….

Practice transformative justice in your closest relationships. Choose patience, communication, mediation, curiosity, boundaries, and uprooting harm over cancellation, public humiliation, ghosting people, or other methods of disposing of people. The more you practice it personally, the more you will be able to support others through it politically and collectively. (Rohr, 2026)

We seek the understanding of the Spirit to process the frequent response that contradicts Jesus' Way, demonstrated by the father of the sons, with an attitude that we get what we deserve in our wandering away from acceptable behaviour.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15?1 

Meditation on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/07/1513881/ 

Micah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/micah/7?14 

Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103? 

Rohr, R. (2026, March 6). An All-Embracing Love — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-all-embracing-love/  

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Father, I Have Sinned against Heaven and You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-7-2026 

Gratitude or Greed

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the poison of greed and jealousy in damaging our relationship with the people in our lives and our full life with God.

Stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

In the Reading from the Book of Genesis, Joseph is Sold into Egypt.

* [37:21–36] The chapter thus far is from the Yahwist source, as are also vv. 25–28a. But vv. 21–24 and 28b–36 are from another source (sometimes designated the Elohist source). In the latter, Reuben tries to rescue Joseph, who is taken in Reuben’s absence by certain Midianites; in the Yahwist source, it is Judah who saves Joseph’s life by having him sold to certain Ishmaelites. Although the two variant forms in which the story was handed down in early oral tradition differ in these minor points, they agree on the essential fact that Joseph was brought as a slave into Egypt because of the jealousy of his brothers.

* [37:28] They sold Joseph…silver: editors tried to solve the confusion, created by different sources, by supposing that it was the Midianite traders who pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to Ishmaelites. In all probability, one source had the brothers selling Joseph to Ishmaelites, whereas the other had them cast him into the pit whence he was taken by Midianite traders. (Genesis, CHAPTER 37 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 105 is a hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents The Parable of the Tenants.

* [21:33] Planted a vineyard…a tower: cf. Is 5:1–2. The vineyard is defined in Is 5:7 as “the house of Israel.”

* [21:34–35] His servants: Matthew has two sendings of servants as against Mark’s three sendings of a single servant (Mk 12:2–5a) followed by a statement about the sending of “many others” (Mk 12:2, 5b). That these servants stand for the prophets sent by God to Israel is clearly implied but not made explicit here, but see Mt 23:37. His produce: cf. Mk 12:2 “some of the produce.” The produce is the good works demanded by God, and his claim to them is total.

* [21:38] Acquire his inheritance: if a Jewish proselyte died without heir, the tenants of his land would have final claim on it.

* [21:39] Threw him out…and killed him: the change in the Marcan order where the son is killed and his corpse then thrown out (Mk 12:8) was probably made because of the tradition that Jesus died outside the city of Jerusalem; see Jn 19:17; Heb 13:12.

* [21:41] They answered: in Mk 12:9 the question is answered by Jesus himself; here the leaders answer and so condemn themselves; cf. Mt 21:31. Matthew adds that the new tenants to whom the vineyard will be transferred will give the owner the produce at the proper times.

* [21:42] Cf. Ps 118:22–23. The psalm was used in the early church as a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection; see Acts 4:11; 1 Pt 2:7. If, as some think, the original parable ended at Mt 21:39 it was thought necessary to complete it by a reference to Jesus’ vindication by God.

* [21:43] Peculiar to Matthew. Kingdom of God: see note on Mt 19:23–24. Its presence here instead of Matthew’s usual “kingdom of heaven” may indicate that the saying came from Matthew’s own traditional material. A people that will produce its fruit: believing Israelites and Gentiles, the church of Jesus.

* [21:44] The majority of textual witnesses omit this verse. It is probably an early addition to Matthew from Lk 20:18 with which it is practically identical.

* [21:45] The Pharisees: Matthew inserts into the group of Jewish leaders (Mt 21:23) those who represented the Judaism of his own time. (Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

Steve Scholer offers that if we can focus on just one word each day as we pray, we can put Greed and Envy in their place. And that word is Gratitude. To humbly thank God each day for his endless gifts, for our life and salvation, the joy we find in our friends and family, and the world God created for us.

St. Ignatius knew the importance of “Finding God in all things.” In so keeping, we should recognize God’s presence, not just in church, but in our everyday lives, be it at work, in relationships, in times of stress and joy, and in the beautiful world in which we live. By keeping our focus here, we can push Greed and Envy into the far recesses of our minds and live God-focused, not self-focused, lives. (Scholer, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes Life through death, by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Unless the Word of God had first assumed our mortal flesh He could not have died for us. Only in that way was the immortal God able to die and to give life to mortal humans. Therefore, by this double sharing He brought about a wonderful exchange. We made death possible for Him, and He made life possible for us." (excerpt from Sermon 218C, 1) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Genesis presents the story of Joseph, son of Jacob who showed his preference, and his brothers throw him in a dry cistern and he is sold to be a slave in Egypt. Joseph, in difficult circumstances, shows that God works through history to save. In the Gospel of Matthew, when the tenants refuse to pay they plan to kill the son and acquire the inheritance meant for the son. In Mark, they claim to kill him in the city. Mark as the oldest Gospel is likely to be what Jesus said and Matthew describes what happened. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. Friar Jude comments that the leader will be rejected. Jesus rejected, by them, will be the cornerstone of a new community including people from outside Israel.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 comments that Jesus can show us the way to freedom. As “the stone that the builders rejected,” he, too, knew the sting of rejection (Matthew 21:42). But he never let that sting fester into resentment or anger. Instead, he let his Father’s love dissolve any bitter or spiteful thoughts before they took hold of him. He protected his human gift of reason so that he could address challenges clearly and peacefully. And that enabled him to look at each person—including those who rejected him—with love and understanding.

So take Jesus as your model. Use your own God-given gift of reason to help you see clearly. Let your Father’s love dissolve your own bitterness and help you meet opposition with love. And when you are tempted to embrace the illogic of envy, let his mercy for everyone soften your heart.

“Jesus, teach me to think like you so that I can love like you.” (Meditation on Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, honors that we must be very clear about right and wrong, naming when injustice takes place, while maintaining our commitment to grace and love. Fr. Richard can’t deny there are numerous black and white, vengeful scriptures, which is precisely why we must recognize that all scriptures are not equally inspired or from the same level of consciousness. Literal interpretation of Scripture is the Achilles’ heel of fundamentalist Christians.

We have to begin with dualistic thinking, just as we must first develop a healthy ego and frame before we can move beyond it. Jesus often made strong binary statements, for example, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24); “The Son of Man will separate the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:32–33). We must first be capable of some basic distinctions between good and evil before we can hold paradox. Without basic honesty and clarity, nondual thinking becomes very naive. We must first succeed at good dualistic thinking before we also discover its final inadequacy in terms of wisdom and compassion. Not surprisingly, Jesus exemplifies and teaches both dualistic clarity and then non-dual wisdom and compassion: “My Father’s sun shines on both the good and the bad; his rain falls on both the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

The ego prefers a dualistic worldview where bad people are eternally punished, and good people (like ourselves) are totally rewarded. But the soul does not need to see others punished to be happy! Why would anyone like the notion of somebody being tortured for all eternity? What kind of psyche or soul can condemn others to hellfire? Certainly not Divine Love. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the guidance of the Spirit to bring to our mind gratitude that initiates the affirmation of the people, children of God, and “keystones” who bring fullness of life to our journey.

References

Genesis, CHAPTER 37 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/37?3 

Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?33 

Meditation on Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/06/1513232/ 

Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?16 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-all-embracing-love/ 

Scholer, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-6-2026 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Stone Which the Builders Rejected. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/