19 February 2016 - initiative of mercy

[ Today's Readings ]

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,

LORD help us to take the initiative of mercy. We can't wait for problems to solve themselves and just go on living as if nothing is wrong. Not only that, we can't act as though we aren't guilty. We are all angry with our brother at times. It impacts the way we speak to them. Occasionally we let slip words like Raqa or 'You fool'. But even if it is not so obvious our angry hearts skew our actions in subtle ways that harm our relationships. Even when we haven't done anything obviously sinful we have likely omitted all sorts of opportunities to love.

We need to change. Jesus, this sort of renewal and restoration, this sort of mercy and forgiveness, can only begin from the heart. Change our hearts, O LORD, to be more like your heart. Help us have hearts that choose to love rather than indulge in anger. Help us to be able to say "Father, forgive them" (see Luke 23:34) even when we suffer the pains of the cross.

None of us are pure as you, O Jesus, are pure. But you first give us the offer of mercy, before we ask, while we are yet sinners (see. Romans 5:8). Help us to receive that offer. Allow your mercy to change our hearts so that we in turn can bring your mercy to all the brothers we have hurt.

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered. 

You rejoice to see us transformed by mercy. You do not take any pleasure when we insist on unforgiveness for ourselves. But we know that the condition of having our trespasses forgiven is that we in turn forgive others. The condition for having our unpayable debt waived is that we in turn don't hold the debts of others against them.

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD. 
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

Unforgiveness is a prison for ourselves and for others.

Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

Jesus, break the bars. Shatter the walls of this prison. Where we could once see only dirt let your mercy fill the skies!

I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.

A setting of the psalm..