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Is God’s mercy really boundless?
Our lack of faith, coupled with guilt from the sins we have committed, makes us doubt the extent of God’s mercy. Feelings of unworthiness lead us to think God has no interest in us anymore.
God is Love and Mercy itself
The merciful love of God is for all human beings. In Exodus 34:6, God declared to Moses that He is merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. He expresses His love through the outpouring of His mercy upon us. It was perfectly shown when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us on the cross. Indeed, God’s mercy knows no limit. Who can comprehend its depth and breadth?
God’s mercy is greater than our sins
This inspiring quote from the diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska has encourage us to deepen our trust in Jesus:
“All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary: that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest. ”
The book of Chronicles in the bible tells that the Israelites sinned many times against God and rejected Him when they built pagan altars to worship idols. But when they humbled themselves, acknowledged their sins, and prayed to God, He showed His incomprehensible mercy and blessed them again with His graces.
Jesus Christ’s passion and death on the cross opened wide His ocean of mercy for everyone. He invites us to come to Him and recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins.
“My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed myself to be nailed to the cross; for you I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace.”
(NO 1485, DIARY OF ST FAUSTINA)
We are called to be merciful
“Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” (GNT)
Luke 6:36
Having received and experienced the mercy of God, we are called to radiate it to others. We may have the natural tendency to act in sinful selfish ways, judging and condemning others so easily, but the scriptures remind us in Luke 6:37-38 that God will judge us based on our merciful actions towards others.
“Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others and God will forgive you. Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands– all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” (GNT)
How to be merciful?
How can we practice mercy towards others? It is through our actions, our words, and our prayers. But we need the grace of God to be completely transformed into His mercy and become His living reflection.
There are various ways of performing works of mercy in our daily lives. And we can exercise it right where we are, in our homes, in our families, in our workplaces and communities. Mother Teresa, an icon of mercy who served the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India said, “Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right where you are— in your own homes and in your families, in your workplaces, and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society— completely forgotten, completely left alone.”
The church teaches us the following ways to be merciful:
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Clothe the naked
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit the imprisoned
- Bury the dead
The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy
- Counsel the doubtful
- Instruct the uninformed
- Admonish the sinners
- Comfort the sorrowful
- Be patient with those in error
- Forgive offenses
- Pray for the living and the dead.
Your turn
Friend, how would you respond to God’s mercy? Jesus’ demand from us to be merciful to others “always and everywhere” seems impossible to fulfill, but He gave us this assurance when we completely trust in Him:
“I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.”
(No. 1074, Diary of St. Faustina)
Here’s an inspiring bible verse to encourage us to show mercy “always and everywhere”.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
(Matthew 5:7)
