What should we do: Seek and Share God's mercy

Homily for 3^rd Sunday of Advent Year C 2015

Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

Introduction

Why do we remember Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg speech, the Inauguration speech of President Kennedy, and the “I have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King?  Perhaps these speeches are memorable because they moved people and led them to some action.

Scripture and Theology

There are two speeches in the New Testament that also lead people to action.

·        One is the speech of Peter on Pentecost, when filled with the Spirit, he described for the crowds, who Jesus was, what he said and did for their salvation.  The people were greatly moved and asked: "What are we to do, brothers?’’  We shall hear more about that speech at Easter.

·        The speech that concerns us today is that of John the Baptist, which concludes with today’s gospel reading.  After he has told the people to prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah by repenting and by being baptised, they too were moved to ask: "What should we do?"

To the different groups asking this question, John gives very practical answers:

·        What should the crowds in general to do?  He suggests charity and generosity: "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise."  In other words, if they want to show that they are truly sorry for their sins, that they have left their old lives behind, they will treat others, even strangers, as brothers and sisters, sharing the basic needs of food and clothing with them.  Is this not what we too do always, but especially at Christmas?

·        For the tax collectors he challenges them to be just and fair: "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."  Tax-collectors were known to be corrupt, taking bribes, collecting more than was stipulated and keeping the difference for themselves.  To show their conversion, they must stop this.

·        And to the soldiers John suggests kindness and truth: "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."  Soldiers could be tempted to use their military power wrongly, especially by extortion and cruelty.  They must stop doing these things immediately.

And so, to all three groups who ask: "What should we do?", John's answer is simple: show your inner conversion through practical actions.

Christian Life

Pope Francis (and indeed all popes) might be considered today's John the Baptist.  Pope Francis too has been teaching Catholics to put their faith into action.  Catholics, moved by his teaching have been asking him: "What should we do?" To this question he has given many practical answers.

But this year, Pope Francis has in a special way, answered the question of "what should we do?" by declaring a Jubilee Year of Mercy.  He has told us that during  this year of mercy which began on Tuesday: Seek and Share God's mercy.

Throughout this year, we shall reflect on various aspects of God's mercy.  But today I want to offer two thoughts: "What is God's mercy that we should seek" and "How can we share it?"

Mercy is treating someone better than they deserve.  And surely God treats us better than we deserve in two ways: by creating us and by forgiving us.

Think of a young man in high school, let's call him Michael.  He is unremarkable, not particularly athletic, not very smart in class either, and scores average or lower on all the kinds of things young ladies would look for in a potential date.  Then out of the blue, Rachel begins to show him some attention.  She is not only really beautiful, she’s also the head cheerleader and valedictorian of her class, to say nothing about all the good work she does at Church.  She is the kind of daughter every parent wants to have.  True to her kind nature, she asks our nondescript Michael to be her date for the Prom.  Now perhaps most of the guys here are probably thinking “no way this could never happen in real life.”

But this is exactly what God did when he created us.  He had no need of human beings, but still he created us and shared with us human beings more than we deserve – he gave us life, his life.  We probably don’t think of God creating us as a form of divine mercy; but do we realize that we didn’t have to exist?  Like Michael was out of Rachel's league, we too as human beings are out of God's league.  But in his mercy, he creates us and invites us be like him.

If the first form of God's mercy has to do with our lower nature, the second has to do with our sinful nature.  Let’s return to our high school friends Rachel and Michael.  They actually go to the Prom together.  And then even better, they eventually fall in love, begin dating and get married a few years later.  We would all agree that Michael has won the jackpot.  Unfortunately, after they have been married for a couple of years, he begins to take her for granted; he begins to forget how lucky he is.  And then he cheats on his wife.

Fortunately for Michael, after she does some tearful agonizing and serious praying, Rachel forgives him and takes him back.  Being the truly good woman that she is, she treats him better than he deserves.  If dating him in the first place was an act of mercy because he was out of her league, now forgiving him is an act of mercy because she does not punish him as he deserves.

In the same way God is not only merciful in creating us, he is merciful in forgiving us.  Yes, he punished the Jewish people sometimes; but he was quite lenient.  The punishment for sinning against God, who is all good, is eternal separation from God.  But that is not the punishment that God meted out to Adam and Eve, to Cain, to the children of Israel and subsequent generations.  In his mercy he not only forgave them, but he also sent them prophets, priests and kings, to help them get back on the right track.  Moreover, he sent his Son to be the final and lasting instrument of forgiveness and mercy.

That is why Pope Francis invites us to seek this mercy for ourselves.  Some of us are carrying heavy burdens; some of us are oppressed by the sins of our past lives.  We must go to the fountain of God's mercy, especially the sacrament of confession and the other sacraments as well.  During this year of mercy, let us make use of all the tools that God gives us through the Church, to drink from his bottomless spring of mercy.

Having sought and received God's mercy, there is something else that we should do: “Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36), Jesus says.  We must share God's mercy.  It would be unfortunate for Michael, if after he had been forgiven so much by Rachel, he himself does not forgive others who sin against him: his children, his co-workers, even his relatives.

Similarly, during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, as we ourselves take a bite out of God's mercy, we must share it with others.

·        Are there people who have hurt us that we must forgive as Jesus teaches, not seven times, but seventy-seven times?

·        Are there people we have hurt, so that we too must seek their mercy and repair the damage we have caused?

·        Do we know the several corporal works of mercy and the seven spiritual works of mercy and do we carry them out?

Conclusion

"What should we do?"  On this Gaudete Sunday, we receive Good News: "Seek and share God's mercy."  This is our answer.  This is our clarion call to action.  This is our way to heaven, not just in Advent, but throughout our lives."