Category: Mercy

Is God Pointing at You?

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Conversion, Discipleship, Faith, Jesus, Mercy, spirituality3 Comments

Feast of St. Matthew
September 21, 2026

Let’s think about Matthew today, on his feast day. 

Other than his listing among the Twelve, Matthew is mentioned in the Gospel on only one occasion: his call and the celebration that follows.

Matthew’s call is unique among those of the other Apostles. Most of them found Jesus by word of mouth. Andrew told his brother Peter. Philip went and found Nathaniel under a fig tree. But Jesus himself found Matthew.

Was it by chance, as the story makes it appear? Did Jesus just happen to glance into the tax collector’s room, winking at Matthew? Did Matthew pop up, scattering his coins all over the place, to follow someone he had never seen before?

I think the Gospel hints at a much deeper story.

Here’s how the Baroque master Caravaggio imagined the situation.

If Matthew is the bearded man, as is commonly accepted, the scene, with its pointing fingers, assumes the tone of “Who, me?” But Jesus’s gesture is quite clear – “Yes, you!”. Jesus knew Matthew and wanted him in his company.

And isn’t that how many of us experience our various calls?  Of course, God know us – every single one of us, intimately!

And we know that God wants something from us, but maybe we are either unaware, unsure, ungenerous, or unwilling in response. Some of us may stay in those “uns” our whole lives, hiding in the shadows, never fully answering God’s amazing call.

But not Matthew! After the “Yes, you!”, Matthew ran home and organized a banquet to demonstrate his assent. He invited a dangerously mixed crowd of disciples and Pharisees, flirting with potentially contentious conversations. But Jesus turned the muddle into a platform for his mission:

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (Matthew 9:10-13)

Jesus called Matthew as a doorway to those who most needed redemption: the spiritually sick and sinful. He called Matthew to speak Mercy into a world that demanded only sacrifice. He called Matthew because he recognized that Matthew wanted to be called. Otherwise, why was he looking out the door when Jesus passed by?

In our own lives, there is a door in every situation we meet. Through it, Jesus is calling us to a deeper response that speaks Mercy into our world. Can you see him pointing at you?

Music: Open My Eyes, Lord – John Michael Talbot

Embracing Viriditas: Hildegard’s Green Vision

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Creation, Faith, Mercy, spirituality3 Comments

September 17, 2026
Feast of St. Hildegard of Bingen

How this headline breaks my heart!

What have we done to God’s beautiful Creation? Isn’t it enough that we cannot discipline ourselves on earth to refrain from killing? Now we have a plan to let blood pour into the heavens! 

While mourning this development, I realized that today is the feast of St. Hildegard of Bingen. And I thought how desperately we need her inspiration today!

Hildegard, the 12th-century German Benedictine abbess, mystic, prophet, scientist, composer, writer, and Doctor of the Church, had a very different vision of Creation. She saw the whole universe alive with the creative energy of God.

She called that life-giving power Viriditas — “greening.”

“There is a power that has been since all eternity,
and that force and potentiality is green!”

According to Hildegard, Creation is not simply something given us to use. It is alive with the presence and power of its Creator. The earth, the heavens, animals, humanity—all are part of a great divine life.

How far that vision seems from our determination to turn even the heavens into another battlefield.

For the Feast of Hildegard in 2022, our late Sister Eloise Rosenblatt wrote a beautiful reflection on this remarkable woman. You may access it here.

https://www.sistersofmercy.org/st-hildegard-of-bingen

Today, I pray that Hildegard’s vision will challenge our leaders’ visionary deficiency. Instead of making the universe an arena for warfare, let the heavens reflect God’s presence within and among us. Let them bring a message of healing to a world already fractured by aggression.

On this feast of Hildegard, let us pray for a world that imagines new ways of spiritual communion rather than spatial war.

In honor of the amazing St. Hildegard, pray Psalm 19 today. May the heavens declare God’s glory. May God’s perfect Law take root in our hearts.

The heavens declare the glory of God, 
and the firmament shows the handiwork of the Lord.
One day tells its tale to another, 
and one night imparts knowledge to another.

Although they have no words or language, 
and their voices are not heard,
their sound has gone out into all lands, 
and their message to the ends of the world.

In the deep has God set a pavilion for the sun; 
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; 
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; 
the testimony of the Lord is sure
and gives wisdom to the innocent.

The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; 
the commandment of the Lord is clear
and gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; 
the judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether

More to be desired are they than gold, 
more than much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, 
than honey in the comb.

By them also is your servant enlightened, 
and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can tell how often they offend? 

Cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; 
let them not get dominion over me;
then shall I be whole and sound, 
and innocent of a great offense.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight; 
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Music: The Heavens Declare – by Evan4Christ

This beautiful chant is a worship song sung from the perspective of ancient Israelite Hebrews and the Hebrew Testament Levitical Choir. This song uses various verses from the Book of Psalms as its lyrics.