Contemplation #97
How do I know if I am growing into the mercy of God? One question to ask is do I hurt when those deserving punishment receive it? Our Father of all mercies takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, even those who choose it (Ezekiel 18:30-32). If we feel satisfaction when the guilty are judged, when people reap what they sow, then we have yet to learn the mercy of God. We have all received mercy because God chooses to give us what we do not deserve. Learning to be merciful means having compassion on the guilty.
Contemplation #98
Mercy is one aspect of the love of God. We are called into the love of God, to be shaped and formed in love and through love. God is teaching us the nature of his love, and his love is expressed in mercy. The love of God is a love for righteousness, and also having mercy on the thoroughly guilty. In fact, there is no shade of difference between the love of the Father for the sinless Son and God’s love for the vilest sinner. This is why the love of God can work forgiveness through the Son to the most wretched person. This is hard to imagine, but we are loved in all with the same love Jesus has for the Father, and the Father for the Son. When I am in full rebellion against God, his love is not diminished, and his mercy is poured out on me. And this . . . changes me.
Contemplation #99
Spiritual, mystical union with God’s love is what forms us and heals all our wounds. Being immersed in the mercy of God personally and inwardly will not leave us in our former states of pride and selfishness. Meditating on the mercy of God, keeping the cross of love before us constantly so that our lives are interrupted by its presence, leads to an inner transformation that shares in divine love. We must open ourselves, renounce our judgmental impulses, our self-righteous gloating, and welcome God’s love and mercy unto the remaking of our being. May the Father of all mercies have children of all mercies.
How do I know if I am growing into the mercy of God? One question to ask is do I hurt when those deserving punishment receive it? Our Father of all mercies takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, even those who choose it (Ezekiel 18:30-32). If we feel satisfaction when the guilty are judged, when people reap what they sow, then we have yet to learn the mercy of God. We have all received mercy because God chooses to give us what we do not deserve. Learning to be merciful means having compassion on the guilty.
Contemplation #98
Mercy is one aspect of the love of God. We are called into the love of God, to be shaped and formed in love and through love. God is teaching us the nature of his love, and his love is expressed in mercy. The love of God is a love for righteousness, and also having mercy on the thoroughly guilty. In fact, there is no shade of difference between the love of the Father for the sinless Son and God’s love for the vilest sinner. This is why the love of God can work forgiveness through the Son to the most wretched person. This is hard to imagine, but we are loved in all with the same love Jesus has for the Father, and the Father for the Son. When I am in full rebellion against God, his love is not diminished, and his mercy is poured out on me. And this . . . changes me.
Contemplation #99
Spiritual, mystical union with God’s love is what forms us and heals all our wounds. Being immersed in the mercy of God personally and inwardly will not leave us in our former states of pride and selfishness. Meditating on the mercy of God, keeping the cross of love before us constantly so that our lives are interrupted by its presence, leads to an inner transformation that shares in divine love. We must open ourselves, renounce our judgmental impulses, our self-righteous gloating, and welcome God’s love and mercy unto the remaking of our being. May the Father of all mercies have children of all mercies.
posted by Greg at 9:16 AM
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