Musings on Mercy, Mission, and Merit

Pope Francis has frequently focused on our call to mercy and its significance in our lives as a people of faith.  We are charged with the mission of developing and practicing a deeper understanding of mercy.  We are not to remain as recipients or beneficiaries of mercy. Rather, we are also called to be extensions of God’s mercy – a mercy not merited, but which is freely given.  Mercy requires action on our part.  Our response to mercy must be mercy expressed, mercy lived.

Mercy is multi-faceted.  It is experienced in the simple, but unequivocally powerful words, “I forgive you.”  It also thrives in the compassionate response to the needs of others, and the realization we are dependent upon God and one another.

Sunday was Mission Sunday – a time to recall that we are not only to share our faith, but our wealth of blessings, as well, whether it is with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines who have recently suffered from the ravages of an earthquake, those in Haiti still recovering from a previous hurricane, or those in our local community.

Gratitude is one more aspect of mercy. And though we may never be able to adequately compensate anyone for any mercies bestowed upon us, it is important to make a sincere effort to thank those who have shown mercy.

 So to all of you who have shared -

      Through your financial contributions to missionary activities and to our local church,

         through your talent as a volunteer committed to our parish life,

            through your prayer,

I simply say, with heartfelt poetic license in mind, “Merci!”

Jim Gase

Office of Social Ministries and Development