Be Merciful as your Father

The call to be merciful is at the centre of this weekend’s readings. Ultimately, it talks about ensuring that we consider not only our own good but the good of the other. There is a call for epieikes or forbearance to all. This means that people in positions of authority exercise it with a consideration for those that may be affected by their decision making. This is central to the call of Pope Francis for people to be missionaries of mercy. There is an expectancy that we develop an attitude of epiekeia to each other. Drawing people to God through the manifestation of our life. We are called to be people who not only preach mercy but pray mercy, live mercy and be merciful as our heavenly Father.

Over the next year there will be opportunities for us to discover the importance of this. In many instances this could be as easy and as difficult as the constant praying of the Jesus prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner!” This prayer has always been close to my own life as I recognize that God calls me to a life of mercy not sacrifice. I am called to enter into a life which entrusts myself totally to the life of God.

Reading the map

Often as we are travelling we have to wait at roadworks. These are important points in which are called to pause and reflect. The roadworks are conducted not only to make our travel safer but also more direct. When corners are taken out and the ways are leveled it is easier to see the way ahead. This is a good parable for Advent. It reminds of not only of the importance of work undertaken on our behalf but also a reminder that for it to last it should not be done quickly. The work of preparing for Christmas should be undertaken with the same care and attention for the detail of our lives. What paths need straightening, how is our vision impaired, what do we listen to but not take in, who is walking this path with me? In taking time each day to pause and reflect we start on that important work of being attentive to God in our daily life. Our journey does not start at the place we are seeking to reach but at our point of departure. In seeking to discover God's divine life we need to discover that it all begins from the point we are now.