Gospel Reflection 2020/2021

Abusing God’s MERCY.

A parishioner came for Mass. Ignoring the traffic warden, he parked his luxurious car indiscriminately. Before walking away, he lectured the traffic warden arrogantly without shame or remorse, “This is the House of God. I can park anywhere I want. God will forgive me!”

How often have we taken God and His mercy for granted? His mercy is often loosely used, misused, abused and weaponized to justify our sinfulness, shield our brokenness, conceal our wretchedness, and condone evil. No one can approach me, rebuke me, or point out my mistakes because “Jesus loves sinners! No one can judge me – only God can!”

God’s mercy has been treated as cheap and impersonal merchandize that can be easily obtained, traded or earned. And because of that, we can continue to indulge in sin and evil.

God does not deny, reject or downplay JUSTICE.

It is true that God is love and mercy. He welcomes sinners and all who come to Him with sincerity of heart. Mercy is – despite our sinfulness, brokenness and wretchedness – God searching for us, reaching out to us, and offering us pardon, salvation and heaven.

However, ‘God is never merciful at the expense of his justice. Mercy does not exclude His justice, nor is it opposed to it.’ [cf. Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, 11 Apr 2015] The Sacred Scriptures have repeatedly presented to us that God is both infinite MERCY and perfect JUSTICE. Therefore, governed by the rule of law, justice must still be upheld and delivered, and everyone must be given his or her rightful due.

JESUS CONDEMNS SINS.

Sin is the rejection of God’s love. We can sin against God, others and our own selves. Our sins deserve just punishment, death, or even eternal hell fire. A sin is a sin, be it called by any other name. No matter how merciful God is, a sin is still a sin (venial or mortal) and thus must be taken seriously in the light of God’s justice – there must be interior repentance, true remorse and diligent reparation of sins.

Jesus does not mince His words when He says, “If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off! ... If your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off! ... If your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out! … It is better to enter into the kingdom of God handicapped than to be thrown into hell!” Yes, Jesus loves sinners, but if we keep clinging to our sins without repentance, remorse and reparation, we are on the straight highway to hell.

Jesus also warns those who cause His little faithful ones to sin, “better for him thrown into the sea with a great millstone tied to the neck!” Such is the stern warning to us adults, parents, grandparents, godparents, teachers, lecturers, politicians, bosses, managers…, and even catechists and religious leaders. How have we consciously or subconsciously been teaching the little ones to defy God, or to compromise His Laws and His Commandments? How have our words, deeds and lives become scandalous obstacles causing others to lose faith in God and His Church?

God is both infinite MERCY and perfect JUSTICE.

God’s justice is in His mercy. Therefore, we cannot receive God’s mercy without accepting His justice.

St Ignatius of Loyola has this to say, “If the devil tempts me by the thought of Divine JUSTICE, I think of God's MERCY; if the devil tries to fill me with presumption by the thought of God’s MERCY, I think of His JUSTICE."*

Similarly, St Augustine advises that, “After sin, hope for MERCY; before sin, fear JUSTICE.”

Every sin must be taken seriously. God’s mercy is NOT our passport or permit to sin. Let us not misuse, abuse, or weaponize the Mercy of God; and let us not take Jesus for granted.

Let our fervent prayer be:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have MERCY on me, a sinner.”