His Mission is Mercy and Love, Our Response should be Repentance (Wednesday, Lent 4)

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As far as I know, no bond seems to be stronger than the bond between a mother and her child. And that’s why many mothers make extraordinary sacrifices for their children. The love of the mother is constant, even if the child proves unworthy for it or becomes irredeemably stubborn. And that is why it is difficult to think that a mother can abandon or forget her child. However, we know that it does happen. There are stories of mothers abandoning or even killing their own children (for reasons best known to them). But it is interesting for us to hear God assuring the people of Israel that even if a mother forgets her own child or has no compassion on the son of her womb, He (God) will never forget them (cf. Isa. 49:15).


This is the story of love so great that we see in Isaiah 49:8-15. God continued to show His great love to a people (the people of Israel) who defiantly disregarded the terms of His covenant with them. Yes, for a while, they suffered the consequences of their disobedience; but God never failed to show His love and mercy: He continued to send them prophets who spoke of His mercy and assured them of His forgiveness and love.


It was not the worthiness of those exiled people that accounted for those great acts of love and mercy from God. No! It is in God’s nature to be compassionate, loving and forgiving. It was His compassion that brought them out of misery and bondage. It was His mercy that led them safely to their homeland. If God were to mark their guilt, none of them would have survived. Their return to their homeland was not so much a geographical journey as it was spiritual: GEOGRAPHICALLY they returned to Jerusalem; but SPIRITUALLY they were returning to Yahweh.


This is a strong message for us. When we think about the terrible sins of humanity, we will be very dishonest not to admit that God’s mercy and love for us have been great. This very nature of God should spur us to embark on a journey of repentance and conversion. Let us return to a God who has been very merciful to us. He does not delight in the death of the sinner. And He could do anything possible to rescue the lost, even to the point of sending His own Son to suffer and die for our sake.


God’s project is the project of compassion and mercy. And that is why Jesus told those who were not happy with Him because He healed on a Sabbath that “His Father is working still, and He is working too”. By this, he plainly communicated to them that He must continue to go about His mission of compassion and love; and no amount of intimidation would stop Him. And on account of this mission, He ultimately sacrificed His life on the cross so that we might live. The question is: How have we responded to such great love and mercy from God?


Prayer:

Jesus, help me to be ever conscious of your great love and mercy, Amen!


Have a fruitful Lenten journey!



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