A family or a religious community can meet to reflect on their practice of mercy and take decisions about it. Time needed: 45 minutes to an hour. Each person will need a sheet of paper and a pen. The sharing session can be fruitfully followed by individual confessions, and a time or adoration, or Mass.
One of the members reads aloud either a Bible passage on mercy, or the words Jesus and of his close followers about mercy, such as:
“I want mercy, not sacrifice.” “Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful.” “The Son of Man came to seek the lost.” “I do not condemn you either; go, and do not sin anymore.” “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” “Christ Jesus came to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest.” (Paul) “When you judge people, you have no time to love them.” (Mother Teresa)
Others can, if they wish, say aloud other short passages on mercy.
All reflect and pray over these words in silence (5 minutes)
Think of a deeply compassionate person you have known. How did he/she express mercy? Recall some of this person’s spontaneous words and touching deeds (Write).
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My life when compared to Jesus’ life and teachings:
My normal tendency when I see others’ mistakes is:
to condemn / to gossip / to ridicule / to help / to pray for them / to correct with love / to look deeper into my own weaknesses.
My heart goes out to the following kinds of need and suffering (please rank order the groups for whom you feel most compassion):(a) The materially poor (b) The physically sick (c) The mentally sick (d) The aged; (e) The victims of violence (f) The victims of discrimination
An experience in which my heart really went out to a person or group in genuine compassion:
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“Standing before you is a man who has experienced much forgiveness.” (Pope Francis) When asked who he is deep down, his answer was, “A sinner. This is the most accurate description.” No wonder he so full of compassion. As a forgiven sinner loved by God, he reaches out to the outcast, the refugee, the deformed, the prisoner, the sick, with tender compassion. Am I aware that I am a sinner in need of mercy, forgiven by God and by others many times? Very much so / occasionally / seldom / never
Am I going through life as a loving healer or as condemning judge? Am I lightening others’ burdens or adding to their pain?
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Ways in which I can be a channel of God’s mercy today:
a) Visiting and helping an aged or ill person b) Helping a poor person or family at the cost of some sacrifice; c) Forgiving someone who hurt me d) Trying to understand, rather than condemn, others e) Paying more attention to others’ sufferings rather than to my comforts or convenience
What difference has this Year of Mercy made:
(a) In my person convictions and actions? ………………………………………………………… (b) In our family or community life? …………………………………………………………………………………..
A time of silent prayer or adoration or Holy mass Follows.
JUDGE NOT. CONDEMN NOT. SPREAD GOD’S TENDER COMPASSION. HEAL THE WORLD.
– Fr Joe Mannath SDB
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