The Catholic Calendar for Monday, April 10, 2006
Monday of Holy Week

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14
John 12:1-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"A bruised reed he shall not break. . ." (Isaiah 42:3)

I recently met a person whose idea of God is one of a severe judge and punisher - a God whose existence is to smother our jollity, cripple us with guilt, oppress us with fear and banish us to the fires of hell if we sin. But today's readings show us that God is quite different from this vengeful, one-dimensional depiction. God is love and only love! God gives us the freedom to move away from His love even at the risk of destroying ourselves. Hell is not God's choice. It is ours!

In God there is no hatred, desire for revenge or pleasure in seeing us punished. God is a merciful God - who offers forgiveness for our transgressions, patiently waits for us to return to Him and unburdens us from the agony of our own sinfulness.

God is a creator God -- who carefully and lovingly made every molecule of our being, our universe and everything in it. God is a healing God -- who conquers death and restores us to life. God is a loving God -- to whom we are precious and beloved. God is a peaceful God -- who comes to us in the stillness of quiet places, in the laughter of a child, in the breath of summer, in the cleansing of a gentle rain and in the tenderness of a good friend.

"In Christ and through Christ, God becomes especially visible in mercy. Christ, in a certain sense, is mercy. . . The person who is the object of mercy does not feel humiliated, but rather found again and restored to value." (Pope John Paul II from "Rich in Mercy")

- Anne
(anne97 at gmail dot com)

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