Monday of the Second Week in Lent
I enjoy baking various breads, cakes and muffins. One thing I have learned, from both instruction and experience, is the importance of carefully measuring ingredients. The flour used in a recipe should be spooned into the measuring cup, not scooped from the container. Once full, it is important to level off the top to provide the exact amount that is required. Fortunately, God does not measure His mercy or compassion in this way. Jesus describes God’s measuring as being so abundant that it “poured” onto our laps. Jesus calls us to be like God- abundant and overflowing with mercy and compassion for others.
In the first reading from Daniel, the author cries out to God asking for mercy. Although there is an admission of the continued sinfulness and rebellion from the people, the author continues to trust in the everlasting compassion and forgiveness of God. The Responsorial Psalm again describes how God’s people cry out for His compassion despite the “iniquities of the past.” There is a strong belief that God will “free those doomed to death” and as a result the “generations will declare God’s praise.”
Jesus tells us just how much God is merciful. God gives abundantly! God gives a good measure packed together. Similar to the brown sugar in many recipes, God packs as much mercy as possible to fill the cup. God’s measuring also is “shaken down.” When putting flour into the cup, the cup is shaken to be sure all of the cup is filled to capacity. But then God’s measure goes beyond. Typically, we would skim off that top to be sure there is an exact amount. God continues to fill the cup until it is overflowing!” There is no limit or exact amount for God and His mercy! What a wonderful imagery of God’s abundance!
The challenge for us is that Jesus calls us to be merciful, “Just as your Father is merciful.” This involves not being judgmental, not condemning, and forgiving others. This is not a limited kind of mercy or compassion, but is meant to include our family, friends, people we know and even people we do not know who in some way may have offended us with their words or actions. We are called to allow our mercy and compassion to overflow to the point where it spills over into the world- into the laps of others as well.
This is not an easy task. Before we can be merciful like God, we must first recognize our great need for His mercy and compassion. It is only when we experience this forgiveness first hand that we can in turn pass it along to others. Jesus gives us the ideal example of showing mercy. His final words of forgiveness to those who crucified Him show us a perfect role model to follow.
Once we experience God’s abundant mercy and compassion, we still require God’s grace to help us share this forgiveness with others. Our idea of measuring mercy should not be one of giving just enough, but should be packed together, shaken down and overflowing into the world, which is so in need of God and His Goodness.
Loving Father, Your Son Jesus tells us to be merciful like You, and He gives us the perfect example of forgiveness in His life and death. With the grace of Your Spirit, help us to recognize our sinfulness, accept your mercy and then in turn share this abundant mercy with the world. We pray this through Christ our LORD. Amen.
- Marylynn Herchline