Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Psalm 118:4
This week we celebrate the Sunday of Divine Mercy, God’s immense, steadfast love and compassion for His people. The word ‘mercy’ comes from the Latin word misericordia. You can break that word down into miseria, meaning misery, and cor, meaning heart. Mercy, then, is the compassion that we share with another due to their suffering–we suffer with them in our hearts. Here’s what St. Thomas Aquinas taught about the meaning of mercy: “To say that a person is merciful is like saying that he is sorrowful at heart (miserum cor), that is, he is afflicted with sorrow by the misery of another as though it were his own. Hence it follows that he endeavours to dispel the misery of the other person as if it were his own; and this is the effect of mercy” (ST I, q.21, a.3).
Aquinas also taught that love of God is the greatest inward virtue, but the greatest act of virtue regarding other is mercy: “of all the virtues which relate to our neighbor, mercy is the greatest” (ST II-II, q.30, a.4). Pope Francis wrote, “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy…Jesus of Nazareth, by his words, his actions, and his entire person reveals the mercy of God” (Misericordiae Vultus, 1) When we are merciful, we too reveal God’s mercy to others. We also imitate God’s greatest attribute: “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). God is mercy and love, and we are called to bring His mercy and love to the world. One specific way we can reveal God’s mercy is by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
During Lent, we often focus on the corporal works of mercy, such as feeding the poor and sheltering the homeless. The Easter season is a great time to focus on the spiritual works of mercy: “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently” (CCC 2447). Ponder this list and then pick one or two to focus on this week. Being acquainted with this list can also help us to be prepared when we encounter someone who needs to experience God’s wisdom, consolation, comfort, gentleness, and forgiveness. We can be the face of God for these people–what an honor.
Jesus, our Merciful Savior, please help me to be prepared to bring Your merciful love to another person today. May I remember that You “desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matthew 12:7, Hosea 6:6).