This is why my own hope and confidence in Jesus grow when I need His mercy more. The more sick or sinful we are, the more we are invited to seek Jesus’ healing love. Saint Teresa of Avila touches on a similar insight when she prays, “Ah, how hard a thing am I asking of Thee, my true God! I ask Thee to love one who loves Thee not, to open to one who has not called upon Thee, to give health to one who prefers to be sick and who even goes about in search of sickness” (Exclamations of the Soul to God). In other words, even when we fail to love Him rightly, we can turn in confidence to God, trusting that He still loves us and will heal us no matter our sinfulness.
Finally, after the parable about the woman and the lost coin, Jesus finishes with this: “In the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Could this mean that God is delighted when He sees us begin again after we have failed or relapsed? Or when we struggle to correct our defects of character? Do we give joy to our Lord when we admit that we can’t live this life without Him? Do we console His Sacred Heart when we help others in recovery and share Christ with others? Jesus told Saint Faustina that by deed, word, and prayer we exercise mercy toward others, and that such things are proof of our love for Him. Thank God our recovery provides us every-day opportunities to do these things out of love for He who first loved us.
Reflection Questions
- Make a resolution today to increase your trust in Jesus’ merciful love for you. What can you do concretely to back up this resolution?
- What opportunities do you have each day to exercise mercy toward others in deed, word, and prayer?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: Haggai 2:1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 43:1, 2, 3, 4
Gospel: Luke 9:18-22
Reflection by Marcia G.