Mercy

Review last meditation: 

Topic: God’s Mercy to men

Preparatory Prayer [46]: I will beg God our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty.

Mental Representation:  You may choose an image that helps you consider God’s great mercy.  You might consider a justly condemned person, who through an extra-ordinary grace, regains his whole freedom. 

Grace:  I will ask God for what I desire: Here it will beg for a profound trust in God’s mercy, so that always trusting Him I might never become despondent. 

Points [65]:

I will use a similar approach to the meditation on hell, except this time I will apply my faculties to the subject of God’s mercy.

First, I will try to picture the great change that takes place when a person goes from being justly condemned to new life. I will picture a person departing from difficulty (wicked habits, addictions, guilt of conscience) and into new life made possible by mercy (bright colors, hope, peace, fresh air).

Second, I will hear the rejoicing, the sigh of relief, the praises given to God, the conversation of Christ and His Saints.

Thirdly, I will smell the scent of feasting, the fresh air of springtime and new life.

Fourthly, I will taste the sweetness of the tears of thanksgiving, of unworthiness, of the joy of receiving

Fifthly, with the sense of touch to feel an atmosphere of hope that comes when we trust someone greater than ourselves.  Instead of the flames of hell, it is the fire of gratitude.

Scripture: God’s mercy

The life of St Peter:

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are not on the side of God, but of men. (Mt16,21-23)

At the last supper, Peter spoke: You shall never wash my feet (Jn13).

As Jesus predicted, Peter denied Christ three times. Peter was standing and warming himself when they asked him, “Are you not also one of his disciples? He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man”…Upon hearing the cock crow.. (Mk14,71)

How does Jesus respond?:

He tells the first witnesses of the resurrection, “Go tell the disciples and Peter that they will find me in Galilee” (Mk16). Jesus even encourages Peter by name. 

At the sea of Galilee: Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? — not only showing Peter is great affection, but encouraging him to be a better man. 

The effects of God’s mercy in Peter: Afterwards, Peter would be arrested by the Jewish leadership for preaching the doctrine of Christ. Peter testified to them, saying, “Be it known to you all, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, do we perform these miracles…there is salvation in no one else” (Acts4,8-12)

Saint Paul

In the midst of Saint Stephen’s martyrdom, Saul was there. They cast Stephen out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” and when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting to his death. (Acts7,58-60)

Before his conversion, Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” (Acts9,1)

Paul said: his zeal lead him to persecute the Church (Phil3,6)

And how does Christ deal with Paul?

The Lord appeared to a man named Ananias, telling him to go find Saul.  Ananias responded: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem.” But the Lord said, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine.” (Acts9,15)

The fruit of Christ’s mercy:

“Of the gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace which was given me…though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (Eph3,7-8)

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1,21)

Speaking of Christ: “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in him all things were created…he is before all things, and in him all things hold together…he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning…for in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things…making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col 1,15-20)

“By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain…I have worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.” (1Cor 15,10-11)

Saint Faustina, advocate of God’s mercy:

My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy. Diary 367

[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Diary 1146

Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it. Diary 1075

Colloquy[63]:

First, I will ask Mary to intercede before her Son:

1. So I may know the extent of God’s mercy shown to me
2. I might see that I do not deserve His mercy, but rather punishment
3. I might see how the world wishes for me to forget God’s mercy

I will then pray a Hail Mary.

Second, I will pray the same to Christ, that he may obtain these graces from the Father. I will offer a short but strong prayer to Jesus.

Thirdly, I request these favors from the Father, that He, the Eternal Lord, may grant them. I will then end with an Our Father.