IT IS MERCY THAT I WANT

                               

Several years ago, when we had many forest fires in Northern Saskatchewan, a scientist from the University of Saskatchewan pointed out that the power of nature to regenerate itself is so strong that ‘if you were to examine closely the dying embers and smoke of these forest fires you would see little blades of new grass sprouting even before the fire died out.’ Nature is determined to live and to thrive. 

 

Human beings are a resilient lot. We have suffered much at the hands of others but there is a strong push to survive and to thrive. The struggle to thrive are most often manifested through trial and failure.

 

This is where the thrust of Pope Francis that the Church work more and more to become a Church of mercy and healing is so welcome and needed. In all our ministry and interaction with people, what they need, is to receive  mercy and compassion. The ability and the power to share God’s mercy is a great potential in the life of every believer.

 

Anyone who has suffered a divorce or the breakup of your family is a person who carries many unspoken hurts and failures. These hurts may smolder and cause so much agony as they try to rebuild their lives. The divorced need mercy and understanding.

 

Countless and unspoken families carry the pain of a member who has died of an overdose (primarily males over the age of 29) from illicit drugs. These deaths, almost all are accidental are so needless. This son or brother whom you loved has been snatched from your life. There is a deep hole of sadness and incomprehension. The reality of the overdose epidemic crosses all social classes. Everyone is only one family away from this tragedy. This family needs the help of God’s mercy brought about your quiet support and compassion.

 

As we come out of the sixteen months of lockdown imposed on us by the Covid epidemic we have countless elderly parents who have not had physical contact with their children and grandchildren for so many months. The isolation has been very burdensome on the elderly. Many families have observed that ‘there has been a real decline in their mother because she has not had any meaningful contact with her family. Her memory is failing because of the she cannot hug her grandchildren. What a almost-silent call for mercy?

 

The young unemployed adults are too often the invisible people who also suffer. Work or meaningful employment is crucial to the well-being of people. We need to have a reason to get up in the morning. We need work in our daily lives. The frustration and emptiness of the unemployed needs understanding. They need encouragement in the long weeks of inactivity. The unemployed need the support of the mercy of God that can be given through our hands. 

 

AS a Church we want to move people from away from just feeling that they are good people who have good morals. The call from the Gospel is that we move into the world and bring goodness and mercy to others. We have yet to mine the potential for spiritual growth and meaning that living and practicing God’s mercy can bring. 

 

We want to claim the power of the final blessing at the end of each Sunday mass. We are bring sent into the world, not be secure and comfortable, but to practice the living mercy of God to those who are hurting, estranged or just on the edges of life.