This article was written back in April of 2004 by Father Peter:
Today is Mercy Sunday. To honor this day we are asked to ponder the great mercy of God in our lives. His love extends to even the worst part of us, our sinfulness, and changes us. His love reaches to the darkest depths of our being and shines the light of truth and forgiveness. There is nothing that cannot be redeemed or forgiven as long as we ask for God’s mercy.
Meditating on the mercy of God, and how it has touched my life always brings me to an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There is no real explanation for God’s mercy except his love, and I am incredibly grateful for His love. In fact it is a strange but true equation, that the more I know my own weakness, the more grateful I am to God for his mercy. Awareness of His mercy brings me inescapably to gratitude.
How are we to express our gratitude?
The interesting thing about us human beings is that we always need a way to express on the outside what is inside of us. Tears for sorrow, laughter for joy, tapping or pacing for anxiety, these are ways we get outside of us what is going on inside. Love and gratitude likewise need external outlets.
God has told us what to do. “Forgive as you have been forgiven.” and, “Love one another as I have loved you.” The outlet for a greater appreciation for God’s mercy in our lives is to be merciful with one another. The best way to honor this day of mercy is to show mercy to one another.
Remember the corporal and spiritual works of mercy? Try to name the classics (there are 7 each), and then see if you can’t add to the list. Now choose something to do today to honor God’s great gift of mercy.