Love of Mercy
by Fr. Gus Carter
6 /5 /05

Not long ago I read a statement that summarized a great truth about human life: "Those who love look for the good around them~ those who hate look for the bad." We have a clear example of these attitudes in the Gospel we have read today. The Pharisees hated Jesus because his life criticized their behavior. They could never credit Jesus for the good he did. They always looked for ways to condemn him. Jesus, on the other hand, could see good in people who were generally despised by those of his time.

Vivid examples of what love does to persons comes from my experience of a number of brides whose marriages I have witnessed. On their wedding day they loved everyone. On that day their love cast a beautiful light on all things connected to the celebration. The loving glow on the brides' faces made them exceedingly attractive. Their attitude added to everyone's enjoyment of the day. I think we can all recall how kindly persons have made us feel special. Their acceptance and appreciation, as the saying goes, "made our day."

When children do bad things, good parents do not give up on them. They have seen the goodness within their children. They have experienced their potential for good. We call God our Father. The Lord knows the goodness within each person. As long as we live God does not give up on us. A number of theologians contend that the good God could not have created us if he were not merciful. The Lord knows our weaknesses. In a number of places in Scripture we find similar ideas of what God is like.

"The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." Jesus acts out God's mercy in today's Gospel by associating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus' dining is always a symbol of the messianic banquet, God's invitation to the eternal bliss offered all humans. We are all invited, not because we are worthy but because God's divine graciousness wants all included. Jesus' actions show that God's love reaches out to every person. By dining with sinners Jesus showed the Lord's readiness to forgive sinners. In every generation "tax collectors and sinners" assume different appearances. Those who follow Jesus will reach out to them to draw them into the banquet of God's people.

The first reading prays that we will "know the Lord." In Scripture "Knowing the Lord" means not just head knowledge but experience of God. God comes among us as "spring rain." The Lord comes gently to cleanse us, to refresh us, to give us life. We are images of God and followers of Christ. We come to know God by experiencing what God is like in our own lives. As we grow to be merciful persons, we come to experience God's mercy. By our mercy we model and preach mercy to the world. When we forgive, we release others from their sin~ when we accept and appreciate others, we refresh and give life.

The spiritual masters of the Church stress that we need to assess our lives, examine our consciences often. A good method of examination would be to ask ourselves, "Am I most conscious of the good around me or the bad around me?" The ability to see good in others is a sign that we are loving persons. If we tend to dwell on what is hateful, we are accusing ourselves of being unloving. If we are merciful people we will make the effort to understand others. I am told that an old French saying asserts, "To understand all is to forgive all." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German theologian, remarked that the best way to really know a person is to be aware of what they have suffered. Many apparent sinners have been treated abusively by important persons in their lives. This is why being merciful means that we do not judge the motives of others. Only God knows the evil pressures that have shaped the lives of many. When we are merciful, we give people the benefit of the doubt. We try to interpret actions in a kindly way. Merciful persons are able to disagree with others in a gentle way. Angry accusations make it hard for others to hear our reasons. Where they can persons of mercy try to improve the social situation in which they live. They assist others. They relieve burdens. They are able to listen to those with difficulties.

We need to recall often Jesus most direct suggestion about how to live: "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart: and you will find rest for yourselves." Humble persons are aware of bad judgments they have made in their past. They are not quick to judge and condemn. For me an important part of meekness is the willingness to give others credit. Such personalities are not warped by purely selfish considerations. These two virtues make us peacemakers that calm others and take a lot of tension out of their own lives. Jesus wants us to enjoy living.