Today, in Mercy, Jesus stretches out his arms to all the suffering, troubled, lonely, upset people of the world. He opens his arms to us when we are feeling exhausted, confused or lost.
“Come to Me”, Jesus says. I am waiting for you. I see your burdens and distress. It doesn’t even matter if you are the cause of your own problems. I love you and I will comfort you.
Today, let’s just give ourselves, without reservation, into his loving invitation.
Today, in Mercy, our readings tell us something we already know – living a good, holy life is hard, especially when we are caught in suffering.
Isaiah gets so upset about his unworthiness for it that he cries out, “Woe is me! I am doomed!” But then, after a little angelic intervention, he nevertheless opens his heart to God’s call.
In our Gospel, Jesus says we’re going to run into a lot of darkness as we try to speak Light. He says the darkness could even be life-threatening. That thought is pretty woeful, too, don’t you think?
But then Jesus says somethings so stark, yet reassuring:
Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body, but not the soul.
Not a single sparrow falls without God’s awareness, and you are worth more than many sparrows.
God even numbers the hairs on your head, like a Mother brushing the locks of her beloved child.
In other words, you are beyond precious to God. God will accompany and sustain you as you navigate any darkness.
This morning, I think of those young Thai boys and coach, delivered from the isolating, life-threatening darkness of a twisted, flooded cave. Praise God!
Their situation may remind us of times we have been overwhelmed by sorrow, loneliness, fear, isolation, or any other kind of pain. God is with us in that darkness. We are never lost to God. Our faith assures us that, like a sparrow held gently in God’s hand, we will be delivered to Light.
Music: His Eye Is on the Sparrow – a vintage selection by George Beverly Shea
(George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as “America’s beloved gospel singer” and was considered “the first international singing ‘star’ of the gospel world,” as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades.)
Lavish Mercy 