Monday of the Second Week of Lent - March 6, 2023

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 Daniel 9: 4b-10 Luke 6:36-38

“Be merciful and you will receive mercy.”

According to the gospel, being merciful is one of the outstanding virtues we Christians should uphold and embody. Mercy is defined as compassion and includes feelings and acts of kindness, sympathy, forgiveness and love. Again and again, Jesus taught, “blessed are the merciful.” He showed mercy to all, including people considered social or spiritual outcasts.

St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Mercy is the greatest of all virtues.” Throughout life, there will be times when people are unkind to us, perhaps even hateful. There will be times when people are ungrateful or behave thoughtlessly toward us. Regardless, we must strive to treat them with compassion, forgiveness and grace, just as God has shown to us. God may put someone in your path who has physical, emotional or financial needs they are unable to address on their own. Will you extend mercy to them? God wants us to show mercy...for it can bring us “happiness.”

Our Visitation community demonstrates acts of mercy in many ways, including praying every day for those who are sick. Other great examples are donations of food and water, our Advent peace tree and participating in projects like Christmas in October to improve housing conditions for local families, and the annual Knights of Columbus coat drive for children and adults in need. In addition, our pastor counsels those who are distraught or downcast, and we celebrate the lives of our deceased members with a final farewell.

The most external expression of our faith is the love we show to others. So, let’s “HAPPILY” continue to practice acts of mercy, on our own and as a church community.

Q: Who have I encountered lately that needed mercy shown to them? Did I show them mercy “happily?”

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