Mercy – Are you accepting Jesus’ promise of mercy?

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy”.  We ask for our Father’s mercy all the time.  How many times do we say in jest that He is probably tired of hearing of our many requests?  And there is another side – Jesus also asks us to imitate Him by extending that mercy towards others.  But, as was my goal this Lent, let’s look at the Beatitudes from a fresh perspective.  How many times have we gone before God with all our sins, asking for mercy, and then fail to accept that mercy and healing?  We continue to hold onto all that baggage that Jesus has taken on for us already.  He’s sent His healing and we’ve ignored His graces and still don’t feel we are worthy.   Why do we fail to accept God’s blessing of forgiveness?  Maybe during this Lent, we can recall, for one last time, those sins we have never forgiven ourselves for.  I suggest writing them down on a piece of paper (in private of course) and take time to talk quietly with God.  Ask for His mercy in letting go this one last time of all the burdens you unnecessarily have been carrying, weighing you down.  Then do just that – let go of your burden that Jesus promises to carry for you.  The following story struck me and may be helpful in putting this all into perspective. 

A traveler was walking down the road laboring under the heavy burden he was carrying on his back.  Along came a man with a horse-drawn cart.  Pulling alongside the traveler, the cart driver said, “Sir, I see that you are carrying a heavy load and that it makes you weary.  Wouldn’t you rather ride in my cart than carry that heavy load?”  “Yes,” the traveler said as he got into the cart.  “Now I will no longer have to walk with this burden.”  A little further down the road the cart driver looked behind him and was quite astonished to see the traveler sitting in the cart still carrying his burden, held tightly on his back.  ‘Sir, why do you still bend under the weight of your burden when you could simply set it down?” he asked.  “You have helped me so much already,” said the traveler, “I would not want to impose on you any further.”  “But don’t you see,” replied the cart driver, “it would not be an imposition on me for you to put your burden down.  Look at my horse; he is strong and willing.  He was made to carry heavy burdens.  Besides, both of you are now carrying your load, yet my horse will carry your load whether you do or not!  So please put your burden down or you will wear yourself out and make my horse feel unappreciated.”

Let’s remember this Lent to honor Jesus’ sacrifice of dying on a cross for all of our sins.  He shows us mercy today, and continues to show us mercy every one of our days even when we don’t ask.  Let’s strive to show our appreciation to Him by humbly and thankfully accepting His mercy.   

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”  Matthew 5:7