Reflection
Feast of St. Matthew
“I desire Mercy, not sacrifice.”
As a child, did you ever do something wrong and expect a harsh punishment, only to be spared? That was mercy. In our culture, mercy means showing compassion when one has the power to punish. In Scripture, mercy reflects God’s loving kindness: withholding punishment even when it is deserved. The Hebrew understanding of mercy highlights three important truths. First, mercy is God’s gift of loving kindness; it belongs to God. Second, mercy is not merely a feeling but an action. Jesus touched the sick and fed the hungry. Third, mercy is expected of Christian believers. For Christians, mercy also includes forgiving people for what they have done. (Hope Field, Mercy: Biblical Definition, Ethnos 360 Bible Institute Passionist Daily Reflection)
Today is the feast of St. Matthew. Although we do not know much about him, we do know that he wrote for Jewish Christians, an audience familiar with the Hebrew understanding of mercy. The other evening, I watched a news story about a hit-and-run in which a teenage cyclist was struck and killed. During an interview, the cyclist’s father said he would forgive and show mercy toward the person who killed his son. How would you and I respond? Would we offer that driver mercy and forgiveness? We are called to be agents of mercy: helping those who are hurting, forgiving those who have hurt us, and being patient and kind toward those who are impatient with us. Today’s Gospel calls us to extend mercy to others.
Lord, give me the grace to be merciful to others.
