Divine Mercy – Love's Second Name
Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 (15:1-10)
Paul, once a blasphemer, persecutor, and arrogant, obtained mercy because he "acted out of ignorance in [his] unbelief" (1 Tim 1:13). Peter in his first sermon after the Pentecost excused "men of Israel" (Acts 3:12) from their sin of denying Jesus (Acts 3:14-15) on account of their ignorance (Acts 3:17). And our Lord himself prayed for those who sentenced Him to death, nailed Him to the cross, and laughed at Him while He was hanging from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Paul's experience of God's mercy resulted in a powerful proclamation: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost" (1 Tim 1:15). In the Diary of Sr. Faustina we can read: "[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy" (Diary, 1146). That is exactly what Luke reports in today's Gospel: "Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto [Jesus] to hear him" (Luke 15:1).
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees and scribes would not do it. They separated themselves from the ungodly and considered themselves in no need of repentance (Luke 15:7). But Jesus is the shepherd of Israel who seeks out the lost, brings back the strayed, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16). He befriends sinners (Luke 7:34) and leads them to repentance (Luke 5:32).
The shepherd represents Jesus but who is that woman from the second parable (Luke 15:8-10)? Some identify her with the Church. The coins she possessed were Greek coins. The recipient of Luke's Gospel was a Christian community living in the circle of Greek culture. The woman lighted a lamp (Luke 15:8) and the light of that lamp allowed her to sweep, to search the house thoroughly, and to find the lost coin (Lk 15:8). "You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14), said Jesus. Our lives should enlighten the world so that the lost can be found (Mt 5:15).
There is joy after finding the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. God does not have any pleasure in the death of the wicked. He wants us to repent and live (Ezekiel 18:23). When the people of Israel realised what a grave sin they had committed by worshipping the molten calf, they "went into mourning, and none put on his finery" (Exodus 33:4). Then, when the time for building the sanctuary arrived, their generosity vastly exceeded the needs "for all the tasks to be done" (Exodus 36:3-7). After that change of heart God's glory dwelled in the sanctuary among His people (Exodus 40:34).
In 2002, Saint John Paul II said: "In the mercy of God the world will find peace and mankind will find happiness". The psalmist was aware of it and so he calls: "Have mercy on me, O God" (Ps 51:3). God's mercy transforms us; our sins are wiped out and a clean heart is created for us (Ps 51:4.12). So what is Divine Mercy? "The greatest attribute of God" (St. Faustina), "an indispensable dimension of love", and "love's second name" (St. John Paul II).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 (15:1-10)
Paul, once a blasphemer, persecutor, and arrogant, obtained mercy because he "acted out of ignorance in [his] unbelief" (1 Tim 1:13). Peter in his first sermon after the Pentecost excused "men of Israel" (Acts 3:12) from their sin of denying Jesus (Acts 3:14-15) on account of their ignorance (Acts 3:17). And our Lord himself prayed for those who sentenced Him to death, nailed Him to the cross, and laughed at Him while He was hanging from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Paul's experience of God's mercy resulted in a powerful proclamation: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost" (1 Tim 1:15). In the Diary of Sr. Faustina we can read: "[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy" (Diary, 1146). That is exactly what Luke reports in today's Gospel: "Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto [Jesus] to hear him" (Luke 15:1).
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees and scribes would not do it. They separated themselves from the ungodly and considered themselves in no need of repentance (Luke 15:7). But Jesus is the shepherd of Israel who seeks out the lost, brings back the strayed, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16). He befriends sinners (Luke 7:34) and leads them to repentance (Luke 5:32).
The shepherd represents Jesus but who is that woman from the second parable (Luke 15:8-10)? Some identify her with the Church. The coins she possessed were Greek coins. The recipient of Luke's Gospel was a Christian community living in the circle of Greek culture. The woman lighted a lamp (Luke 15:8) and the light of that lamp allowed her to sweep, to search the house thoroughly, and to find the lost coin (Lk 15:8). "You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14), said Jesus. Our lives should enlighten the world so that the lost can be found (Mt 5:15).
There is joy after finding the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. God does not have any pleasure in the death of the wicked. He wants us to repent and live (Ezekiel 18:23). When the people of Israel realised what a grave sin they had committed by worshipping the molten calf, they "went into mourning, and none put on his finery" (Exodus 33:4). Then, when the time for building the sanctuary arrived, their generosity vastly exceeded the needs "for all the tasks to be done" (Exodus 36:3-7). After that change of heart God's glory dwelled in the sanctuary among His people (Exodus 40:34).
In 2002, Saint John Paul II said: "In the mercy of God the world will find peace and mankind will find happiness". The psalmist was aware of it and so he calls: "Have mercy on me, O God" (Ps 51:3). God's mercy transforms us; our sins are wiped out and a clean heart is created for us (Ps 51:4.12). So what is Divine Mercy? "The greatest attribute of God" (St. Faustina), "an indispensable dimension of love", and "love's second name" (St. John Paul II).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
