Lord Have Mercy

 By: Ivonne J. Hernandez

What is mercy?

Mercy is the loving kindness, compassion, or forbearance shown to one who offends (e.g., the mercy of God to us sinners). (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

When I searched the Catechism for the term “mercy,” the first entry was in a subsection titled “Mercy and Sin”: “The Gospel is the revelation in Jesus Christ of God’s mercy to sinners” (CCC, 1846). It seems that to understand God’s mercy, we first need to understand sin.

“Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.” (St. Augustine)” – (CCC, 1849)

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER.

The Jesus Prayer… This ancient prayer has been the path to holiness for many of the Saints, for it contains within it the fullness of the Gospel. This short phrase, when prayed with sincerity, has the power to transform our hearts.

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

“What is truth?” (John 18:38) …These words from Pilate during the Passion of Christ echo through time and space in every human heart. Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD…

This was the truth that brought Jesus to the Cross.

“Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:42-43)

When I think of Divine Mercy, I immediately see in my mind the image Jesus revealed to St. Faustina, with red and white rays coming forth from His Sacred Heart. The water and blood that gushed forth from that Most Loving Heart when it was pierced by a lance.

“The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”” (v.54)

Do we truly believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do we fully understand? Do we assent to the truth with our whole minds, our whole souls, and our whole hearts?

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

I do not know what your answer is… but for me… I don’t even have access to my whole mind and my whole heart. So many of my thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors come from places I do not understand.

“For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” (Romans 7:19)

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER.

As I remain in communion with God, He reveals more of me to myself. Each revelation brings to light a place that needs healing, a place that needs mercy, a place that needs love. We should not be afraid of looking at the truth of ourselves, for nothing can separate us from the love of God.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Ivonne J. Hernandez

Ivonne is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, President of Elisheba House, and author of The Rosary: Eucharistic Meditations. She lives in Trinity, Florida, with her husband, Rick, and their children.