Introductory Prayer:  Lord Jesus, teach me to have a heart like yours, gentle and merciful, kind and understanding and so that this may occur keep me close to your own Sacred Heart, the source of love

Petition:  Jesus, may I always pray from the heart.

Gospel: Lk 6: 27-38                    

"But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even the sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing in return; then your reward will be grate and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

1.  Even as Your Father in Heaven is Merciful."

Once upon a time a student asked an old and wise master: "Master, how can I be sure that God will always forgive me my sins?" After some moments of thought, the old man pointed to a dirty stain on the students clothes. "Young man" said the master, "do you throw away your clothes when they become dirty?" "No, Master," said the disciple. The old man replied, "Neither will God throw you away."

When confronted with sin in our lives, we can be tempted to doubt God's mercy. This doubt has been present in the lives of canonized saints and their confidence in divine love is a source of inspiration for us. St. Theresa of Lisieux, shortly before her death, speaking to Mother Agnes said that even if she had committed all possible crimes, she would still have the same confidence in God and would feel that her numerous offenses would be like a drop of water thrown into a flaming furnace. The conviction that God is a God who is prepared to start all over again with us should never leave us. 

2. He is Kind to the Ungrateful and the Selfish.

What is the mercy of God? St. Bernard explained it by saying that God loves us human beings not because in ourselves, apart from him, we are worthy of love; not because we are good and beautiful, but because his love makes us good and beautiful. This can appear at first glance to the modern mind to be degrading but on closer scrutiny it is an encouraging thought because it means that divine mercy will never depend on human merit. This is the basis for the theological virtue of hope: God the Father is always waiting for you with arms outstretched to embrace you regardless of your infidelity, broken promises, squandered time and talents.

In the movie Lawrence of Arabia, Lawrence and his group, while crossing the desert during a sandstorm, suddenly realize that one of their company is missing: Jasmin, the sick and despised outcast of the group. Forget him! says one of the group. He's not only sick but also worthless! So, the company moves on. Lawrence however refused to abandon Jasmin, risking his life to go back, find him, and bring him to safety.

If we human beings, in spite of all our wretchedness, can be merciful, how much more so The Eternal Father of all Goodness?

3. Stop Judging and You Will Not be Judged.

What a surprising command! It is similar to the petition in the Our Father: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. God wants us to be clear-minded about the implications of the Incarnation. As Gaudium et Spes affirmed, God through the mystery of the Incarnation united himself in some way with each and every man. Therefore each and every man is due our respect for the double reason of being man created in the image of God and redeemed by the Incarnate Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. This awesome connection between God and human beings leads us to be circumspect in our dealings with all our fellow human beings because in our dealings with them we touch God.

Conversation with Christ: Heavenly Father, grant me to glimpse something of your divine mercy. I know that my heart will burn with admiring love before the awesome sight of love that is pure goodness, generosity, nobility, self-forgetfulness; mercy. I ask this through the merciful heart of your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, who loved me and was crucified for my sins and those of the whole world. Amen.

Questionnaire:  This optional questionnaire is intended to help you evaluate your life in light of the inspirations god just gave you in these moments you spent with him in prayer.

1. What does trust in God's mercy mean for me?

2. In what ways can I show greater mercy to my family and those close to me?

3. How can I deepen my living of the Sacrament of God's mercy, confession?