In today’s Gospel Jesus calls us to be Godlike: “Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.” We hear of the great mercy of God in today’s first reading from the book of Daniel: “O Lord, we are ashamed, like our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, for having sinned against you. But to the Lord, our God, belong compassion and forgiveness…” Daniel proclaims God as a God of compassion and forgiveness. The true image of God in both the Old Testament and the New Testament is a God of mercy and a God of love. If we are to be Godlike, we must be merciful and loving as our heavenly Father.
In today’s Gospel Jesus calls us to show that same mercy and compassion that God has already showed us. Jesus teaches us: “Be merciful…Stop judging…Stop condemning…Forgive.” Jesus teaches that it is not up to you or me to judge or condemn. Judgment and condemnation are in the hands of God who is truly loving and merciful. Jesus does not say: “Do not judge…Do not condemn” but rather, “Stop judging…Stop condemning.” He knows that “religious people” have a tendency to be quick to judge and condemn. Jesus tells us quite simply: “Stop it.” Our tasks as disciples is to follow the way of Jesus and to welcome all, even and especially “tax collectors and sinners.” Jesus’ mission is to all but especially to those in need: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:17). We are called to follow Jesus’ mission of mercy and to welcome all, no one is to be excluded.
Jesus also wants us to show this same mercy to ourselves. He issues this invitation to each of us:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Our religion and our faith should not be a heavy burden where we are wracked with guilt. Instead, we invited to allow God to love us, to allow ourself to be not only touched but overwhelmed by the mercy of God. God is rich in mercy as St. Paul reminds us:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Image: “Confession under the Cross” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.