How can we be instruments of God’s mercy?

11 february 2024

This Sunday’s liturgy tells us about a God who loves and embraces all his sons and daughters with boundless tenderness, particularly those whom the accidents of life have hurt and disfigured. He does not exclude anyone, nor does he accept that systems of discrimination or marginalization of his brothers and sisters are invented in his name.

1. Be certain that_

– God is good “Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God alone.” Mark 10:18.

– Evil doesn’t come from God (He doesn’t want it, nor does He produce it) but God can bring good out of evil: “We know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

– God always gives what is good at the right time. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”. Matthew 7:11

2. Adopt the attitudes of Jesus 

– Have compassion for those who suffer

Do everything with a heart of charity, that of Jesus who looks at the crowds and lets Himself be overwhelmed, that of the Father who loves His children with tenderness and mercy, that of the Spirit who can make all things new.

“Jesus, having compassion, stretched out his hand, touched him and said, “I am willing, be clean.” Mark 1:41. Let us prayerfully ask for this heart of compassion and intercede for the people who will come to us in need of healing.

“Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.“

– Be sure that God will act and save

“If you are willing, you can make me clean” Mark 1:40

Exercise faith. We don’t need a lot of faith to pray for healing. My faith is a muscle that will grow the more I exercise it.

– Meeting people’s needs

The audacity to reach out to others in their suffering comes from the certainty that God wants to save. God will act!

“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “’If you are willing, you can clean me’.” Mark 1:40

3. Do all things to the glory of God

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³² Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of Godeven as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 

1 Corinthians 10:31

“Nothing is impossible for God,” the angel said to Mary. It’s true, God can create, He can save, He can sanctify… Jesus can heal the sick people he meets, but He waits for a word of confidence: “If you want to!” The man then submits to his will. In the face of this trust on the part of the sick person, Jesus has mercy, because He sees that the person is abandoning himself into His hands to be recreated, raised up, saved and purified. God allows Himself to be touched by human beings, His creatures, when they allow themselves to be remolded by Him, just as He allowed Himself to be modelled on the morning of creation. Jesus advises us not to say anything to anyone, because He doesn’t want to appear as a thaumaturge who manifests the sensational, but as the One who is a sign from God. A single cry touches Him: “If you want to, you can!” Would that our prayers of request all began with an expression of our submission to God’s will!..

SFS:

– In prayer, make an act of faith and put yourself at the Lord’s disposal

– Ask yourself who are the people around you who are suffering

– Go and meet the people who are suffering, pray for them and with them