Mercy

Today is Mercy Sunday. The homilist today told this story about Napoleon, that I made a point of remembering, so I could tell you about it.

A mother begged Napoleon to have mercy on her son.  This was his second offense, so Napoleon said that he didn't deserve it.  Justice demanded the death penalty.

The mother said that she wasn't looking for justice.  She begged for mercy.

Napoleon said, "He doesn't deserve it."

That mother said, "It wouldn't be mercy if he deserved it."

I wondered if the son was spared.  This afternoon, I tried to find this story.  It was easier.  I found it in Preaching Today.

Napoleon had mercy on the son.

Ignorance is NOT a Valid Defense

 What came to mind when reading Apologist Dave Armstrong's answer, was that the same is true when it comes to taxes.  Back in the day, I worked in the tax office,  (Yes I know Jesus put tax collectors and prostitutes in the same category.😁) .  When people would say they didn't know they owed a tax, we responded that ignorance of the law was not an acceptable excuse. Sometimes, it was heartbreaking and sometimes the law would exemplify stupidity, but it wasn't my job to think or judge; it was to collect money.  I'd usually advise people to appeal to my superior.  Dave Armstrong's response amounts to the same principle.

Thank God, we have a God that is all merciful and not a tax collector.

Dave Armstrong

3h  · 

Question on Whether Ignorance of Mortal Sin is a Good Thing

[A person inquiring about the Catholic faith asked me this question]

Q: If you have to know that a sin is “grave” in order for it to be mortal (full knowledge and consent) then why would you want to tell someone that something is grave matter? Wouldn’t their ignorance of grave matter keep them from committing mortal sin and thus not endanger their salvation?

A: It's important that people are aware of what is a grave sin. Even if not knowing that sin x which has been committed is a grave matter and objectively a mortal sin (but not subjectively due to ignorance), a person is still harmed, as sin does no one any good and ultimately leads to spiritual death (Rom 6:16, 23; 7:11; 8:2; Jas 1:15; 5:20). Therefore, people ought to know what is considered serious sin, because habitual committing of such sins will eventually exclude one from heaven (see, e.g., Rev 21:8: "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death" [RSV] ).

Gestapo Followup

Yesterday, I reminisced about the childhood game, we called Gestapo.  It was really about mercy because it was in that foolish game that I first learned what mercy meant.

As a child, it meant stop being mean and cruel. But as an adult, I think deeper.  Now, I know that mercy involves love. Not that the two concepts are equal but that true mercy comes from love.

I will give you an example.  After work, on Fridays, hubby goes out with the guys.  They go to a pub to have some beers.  Not often, but a few times, he has come home drunk.  I grow furious waiting for him.  My imagination goes wild:
                                                                                                 
Was he in an accident?                                               
Is he hurt?
Did he hurt someone?
Was he arrested?

Part of me is emotionally hurt.  Why does he prefer the company of the guys, to his wife?
Part of me is disgusted.  I had a childhood with a drunk.  I don't intend to spend my adult life with one!

So when he comes home, (whenever that will be) I plan to scream at him.  I'll demand that he stop going out on Friday or I'll leave him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, you know what happens?  The minute I see him or hear him coming up the stairs, all the rage and angst just dissipates.  It melts off me.  I am so happy to see him; I can't say anything I planned to say. I'm relieved he's home.

Not that we don't have a conversation the next day, but it is grossly tempered with reason.  Anyway, that's mercy.

Mercy is about my love for my husband, even when he doesn't deserve it.

Gestapo

Back in the "good ole days," we played a game we called Gestapo.  It was nothing like the Gestapo simulation games some children played.  Another one.

No, my neighborhood's Gestapo was simple (and stupid).  It consisted of one child bending a finger of another child back so far until the child cried out in pain for mercy.  That's it.

Then the perpetrator simply stopped. 

Consequently and obviously, this game was only played on newcomers.  Everyone else knew better.

My point in this post is how young were you when you understood the concept of mercy?  

Mercy

Mercy offered to driver after accident that took teen's life aids healing: WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The driver of a vehicle who caused the death of a Washington Catholic high school student said the compassion shown to her after the accident by the boy's parents was the most profound experience of grace she had ever felt in her life.  Good article explaining mercy and what happens afterward.

Gender Difficulty

Pope Francis: Love those who struggle, but don't push gender theory on kids: Aboard the papal plane, Oct 2, 2016 CNA/EWTN News.- On his way back from Georgia and Azerbaijan Pope Francis criticized what he called the “wicked” push of gender theory in schools, but stressed that everyone is to be treated equally and with mercy.

People with gender difficulties aren't the only ones struggling.  I do, too.  I don't know how to handle them.  I don't understand their problems.  It's beyond my comprehension.  And I don't know how to react nor respond to them.

I have one friend who is transgendered.  I don't understand why he changed into a woman.  I feel sorry for him/her because he/she's always alone and every conversation he/she has is about his/her transgender issues.  I don't know what to do to help him/her.  He/She's very spiritual and feels God is with him/her.

Since I don't know what to do, I do nothing.  In fact, I stay away from my problem.  But there are occasions when we run into each other.  When that happens, we hug and chat like old times.

But still.

It's hard.

So I am very happy to read the above article.  The pope says to be kind and merciful and walk with our transgendered friends.  That I can do.

St. James

This morning's meditation included a reading by St. James, (James 2:12-13).  It struck me how James theme of mercy ties in with Pope Francis Jubilee Year of Mercy.

 

Always speak and act as men destined for judgment

under the law of freedom.  Merciless is the judgment

on the man who has not shown mercy; but mercy

triumphs over judgment.

Dirty Little Secrets

Many ask priests, "What's Confession like?"  What they probably mean is, "What's it like to hear people's dirty little secrets?"  Well, from what confessors say, and from what I've read, priests respond with, "It's a humbling experience for the priest;" "it's a liberating moment;" "it's a grace."

The dirty little secrets are not what the sacrament is about.  The sacrament is a reconciliation with God.  Sin separates us from God and Confession/Reconciliation/Penance (different names for the same sacrament) bring (reconcile) us back to God.  This is why the confessors say, "It's humbling, liberating, a great grace."

The confessor sees how the penitent is sincerely trying to live a moral life. They don't like what they've done, or how they are, and want to start over.  The confessor sees the desire to be a better person, to get closer to God, to be what God them to be.  The confessor is humbled to be an instrument that God uses to be the means to speak in persona Christi.  The confessor sees how much people love their spouses, and children, and parents, and others.  These people truly are God's children and want to live that way.  They want their relationship with God to be better and that's why they're there--in confession.  No wonder priests call it humbling and a great grace.

And we Catholics are blessed to be the recipients of that grace.  We Catholics get to experience God's mercy.  Yes, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the way to get closer to God.  Receiving the Eucharist is as personal a relationship anyone can get; we become One with God.  And the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the means to the Eucharist.

This topic was inspired by my reading of a 3-month-old newspaper article.  "Confession is about the mind-boggling mercy of God," by Fr. Dennis Baker, in the National Catholic Reporter, November 20-December 3, 2015, Vol. 52, No. 3, columns 23.

God's Retribution

In talking with one of my "cloistered brothers," the story of his arrest came up.  He believed that his arrest saved his life.  You see, he was a drug addict.  If he had not been arrested, he is sure he would have died from an overdose, committed worse crimes and even killed someone.  He actually believes that his arrest and prison sentence are proof of God's mercy.

His story contrasted with other stories blaming God for their prison woes.  I reflected.

Growing up, my sister and I would quip, "See God is punishing you!" when we fell down, were punished, or hurt ourselves.  We never believed He was.  Even then we knew that an all loving God doesn't do that.

Upon reflection, my "cloistered brother," myself, and others were stopped from hurting ourselves or others, not as God's retribution, but as an act of mercy.  We needed to be stopped.

I pray that everyone will be able to see God's mercy in their lives.

Psalm for Mercy

Psalm for Mercy

Help me Lord
my accusers are strong
I am weak.

Their anger
consumes reason
I am in danger.

Give me shelter, Lord
under your wide wings
help me this day.

Turn away their judgment
Banish all my enemies
I repent of all my sins.

My sins against You
are my worst fear
You are so worthy.

I am so ashamed.
My life is a disaster
Remove my disgrace.

Absolve all my transgressions
Bring me home to You
May I rest in Your peace.

Another Prayer

Mercy Prayer

Fr. Lataste by MEK

God of mercy and of love,

no one can outdo You in 

compassion and generosity.

With this in mind I humbly

petition You to forgive my 

sins, help me to forgive

myself, soften the hearts

of those I have harmed

and free all imprisoned

behind bars of hate.

With overwhelming gratitude

I know how much You love me.

Help me to be worthy of Your 

love.  Give others the grace to

not judge me according to the

wrongs I have committed but as

Your repentant child.

May St. Dominic and Pere

Lataste continue my prayer.

This I ask through Christ, my

Lord and Savior.     Amen

St. Dominic's Compassion

My  Lay Dominican Chapter is still celebrating the blessed solemnity of Saint Dominic.  We did some reflections on the stories about Saint Dominic, today.  There is one story that relates the situation of a man who unfortunately had been taken into slavery.  Dominic was going to offer himself up to replace the man, but the captive was released before that exchange could happen.

Dominic often could be heard crying, himself.  And if you could understand his mutterings, you would have heard begging God's mercy for us sinners.  One of the brothers wrote:

So wonderfully tender-hearted was he touching the sins and miseries of men, that when he (Dominic) came near any city or town from where he could overlook it, he would burst into tears at the thought of the miseries of mankind, of the sins committed therein, and of the numbers who were [headed for destruction].  (Conway and Jarrett, Lives of the Brethren, p. 56) as quoted in Praying with Dominic by Michael Monshau, o.p.

Meditating upon this quote, we prayed.

Try praying the name Jesus until you have focused on His presence within you.  Think of one of your own shortcomings, and pray:

Lord, have mercy.

Think of another and pray:

Christ, have mercy.

Keep on going:

Lord, have mercy.

Pray like this until you can't think of any more faults.  Now ask Jesus to give you the graces necessary to become a more merciful and compassionate person.

Have Mercy on Brian Williams

The news for the past few days have been about Brian Williams exagerrating his part, in news stories.  As a news watcher, I see Brian Williams reporting facts.  He doesn't, no one does, have time to elaborate.  However, on other media sources, he has exagerated the role he has played.  He lied.

Photo found on Creative Commons
Source Creative Commons License

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone...John 8: 7.

As a storyteller, I know that everytime I tell a story, I change it to suit my audience.  If I feel I'm losing my audience, I'll say something to draw the people back.  If people say they like certain parts of my story, I'll embellish those parts.  In other words, I can easily see how every time Brian Williams told the story, the story was crafted differently.

Some people don't understand that. I'm a storyteller.  I've written stories on this blog.  Some of my stories have been published.  I'm always surprised when someone who has read a story thinks that it is true.  Worse, I have had a few people turn their backs on me and walk away, because they said I was gossiping.  Gossiping?

You know what I was doing?  I wanted to make that person feel better.  So I made up a story about a friend of mine who was going through the same trouble, or who was worse off, and everything came out fine.  They said something to the effect that they didn't appreciate that I was gossiping and walked away.

The story was made up!  I crafted the story to encourage them.  I was thinking of them.  I wanted to help.

Coming from this perspective, do you see why I empathize with Brian Williams?  Reporting the news is facts.  Talking about the news is just that, talking about it.