Merciful

The devotion to the Divine Mercy has been one of my favorites. I do remember joining other televiewers in the Philippines that blessed day in June 1985 when the "Three O'clock Habit" was launched.

The message of the devotion, according to its promoters, can be summed up as ABC:

A - Ask for God's mercy.
B - Be merciful.
C - Complete trust in God's mercy.

Both A and C are more for one's self I think. B, on the other hand is more focused on others. I believe if we are able to do A, we are in a better position to do B. "You can't give what you don't have" goes a saying. If you haven't experience God's mercy (once you have asked for it) you cannot be merciful.

Some people have been trying to divorce love and mercy from one another citing situations like this lady entered into a relationship with this gentleman because she pitied her ("naawa") for his perseverance in courting her. Or this guy who married this pregnant girl not because of love, but because of an obligation to save the girl from ridicule and all those sorts.

For men it can be true, but never ever for God.

God's mercy has always been based on love. During Holy Week we reflected on that love, a love that took pity of our sorry state that moved God's only Son to offer Himself on the cross. We still continue to remember that love at Easter and particularly this Mercy Sunday, the Second Sunday in Easter.

Mercy is love in action.

I remembered when I was in Grade 5, Mr Joel Cadiz, our Religion teacher, taught us the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

The Corporal Works of Mercy refer to the needs of the body:

1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit the imprisoned
7. Bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy refer to the needs of the spirit:

1. Instruct the ignorant
2. Counsel the doubtful
3. Admonish the sinner
4. Bear wrongs patiently
5. Forgive offenses willingly
6. Comfort the sorrowful
7. Pray for the living and the dead

We are familiar with most of these. At times we need to go out of our comfort zones to break our already small bread with those who don't even know where to get their next meal, to keep vigil in someone's wake, to take some time-off to attend in a deceased's funeral, to be considerate of others' failures, to be understanding of one's ignorance, or to forgive other's faults.

Sometimes we meet challenges in performing acts of mercy. If they come along the way, remember C! Remember to completely trust God's mercy!

As we celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy this 19th April, let us do our best to perform these acts not out of sheer obligation, but because of mercy for others. Mercy offered to others because we love them. Mercy patterned after that of the Merciful Jesus.