15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C

Mercy

Luke 10:25-37

The reading from Deuteronomy assures us, "The Word is very near you, it is in your lips and in your heart." (Deut. 30, 14)

Such is God's law that is planted in the very hearts of people. Another word for this is simply "mercy".

Mercy is Jesus as he saves us by enduring all sufferings for our sake.  And as God is overly merciful with us, so we need to be merciful to God, to others, and also to self.

Mercy or "hesed" is God's loving care.  It is love with hands and feet that moves and acts for others.  Three more action words connote mercy.  These are forgiveness, empathy, sharing.

In the world of forgiveness, we share in God's forgiveness.

In empathy, we need to feel with one another before we can help them.

In sharing, we use what we have and share them to our brothers and sisters.

Mercy can only be the concrete and tangible way of loving God and our neighbor.