Mercy is Love in Action
November 28, 2016
The year of mercy has come to an end. The Holy Door at St. Peters Basilica is closed. During this past year we were invited to meditate on God’s mercy for us, and how this mercy has been revealed to us in so many different ways. A year in which we learned that the fate of the world is not in the hands of men, but in the mercy of God.
Nonetheless, some people are still asking, “What is mercy?” Scripture has taught this for centuries, “Be merciful just as your Heavenly Father is Merciful.” (Lk. 6:36)
Mercy is a sympathetic and forgiving treatment of others that works to relieve their distress and relieve their debt. It is compassion combined with patience and action. Mercy is what we have received and what we are called to give. Mercy is love in action.
In order to illustrate what mercy is, it would be appropriate to use a video that was used by Fr. Dmytro Dnistrian, CSsR, pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, in his presentation for the pilgrims to the Holy Door at St. Joseph’s parish. The film was called "My Beautiful Woman". The story had a powerful message of love and mercy. The video clip was based on the true story of a woman who defined the true meaning of mercy and love. The story really makes you think about mercy. Living amidst constant gossip and rumors main character of the video has a secret that she will never reveal.
Discover the secret of Jane.
On November 20, 2016, during his homily for the closing of the Holy Door Divine Liturgy at Sts. Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral, Metropolitan Lawrence said, “Even though this special year of mercy is over, we know that as the People of God we must continue to practice acts of mercy in our lives. We are called to open the Holy Doors of our hearts to carry out acts of mercy to the sick and the aged, to the poor and the weak, to those who have no homes and to those who have no jobs. As much as there will never be an end to those persons in need in the world – so too there should never be an end to our mercy.”
Although the Holy Door is being closed, God’s door of mercy is always open. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 1:21)
