Buzzword - "Mother of Mercy" - yet another of the many titles we give to Our Lady. It is opportune for us, today, to reflect on this quality of mercy as an integral attribute of the Christian personality. In doing so, we are responding to Pope John's instruction that this second Sunday of Easter should be observed as "Divine Mercy Sunday".
In the "Merchant of Venice", Shakespeare has the learned Portia declaring that the "quality of mercy is not strain'd; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven on the place beneath; it is twice blessed; it blesses him that gives and him that takes". We all need mercy; we need to show it and we need to have it shown to us; indeed, as followers of Christ, we are instructed to be merciful. [Luke 6:36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful........ for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." But, the instruction does not sit easily with the majority of people. "Justice" is the more frequently heard demand. One even hears demands being made for "vengeance". Any talk of "mercy" is regarded as weakness. Certainly the ancient cultures of pre-Christian times had no time for mercy. The great heroes of the Bible were not distinguished for their mercy. Aristotle hardly mentions it, and the Greeks did not regard it as a virtue, considering it to be a weakness. Many European cultures are still noted for their acceptance of "vendetta".
And yet it is mercy, as exemplified in forgiveness, that underpins the whole concept of religion from the Christian point of view. [Psalm130:3-4] If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. The very possibility of a personal relationship with God rests on the fact that God is a forgiving God. In the prayer given to us in response to the Apostles' request -"Teach us to pray" - we are taught to "forgive, as we forgive". Each time we come together to celebrate the Eucharist, we prepare ourselves by repeating the ancient formula "Lord, have mercy". And among His final instructions to the Apostles was the authority to forgive in His name - "those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven". It's mercy we need, not justice.[ Mat 9:13] Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." In the parable of the two men who went to the temple to pray, one prayed as if God owed him something - "Look at me, Lord! I am not like the rest of men, adulterers, thieves, scumbags, etc. I give, I do this and that. You owe me"! The second man bowed his head and prayed "Lord, be merciful to me for I am a sinner". This man, we are told, went away more justified that the proud man.
I keep referring to these broader facets of the Christian personality because I believe the more we seek to develop them in our attitudes, then the more complete will be the "healing" we all seek in our lives. Throughout history, people have visited shrines and have prayed for healing; but it is a very limited search if they limit themselves only to asking for physical healing. Frequently, the pathway to physical well being is spiritual healing, even when physical healing is not achieved. We develop a deeper understanding of the partnership we are seeking to have with God. If nothing else, by reflecting on these ideals, we convince ourselves of the gap that exists between us and God, and that it is only with God's help that we can improve. That, at least, is a starting point.
As always, we look to Mary for guidance and encouragement. We recall her words on her visit to her cousin Elizabeth -"His mercy is from generation to generation". From the very moment of the Incarnation, successive generations of people have set themselves to follow Christ drawing upon the Divine Mercy for inspiration. But Mary not only proclaimed the Divine Mercy, she obtained it as no other person has. Her own sorrows as she watched and shared Christ's life brought home to her that it was love and mercy that motivated Him rather than the pursuit of justice. She is the one who has the deepest knowledge of the mystery of God's mercy. She knows its price; she knows how great it is. In this sense we call her the Mother of Mercy; our Lady of Mercy; or Mother of Divine Mercy. All of these titles have deep theological meaning which is best summed up for us in the knowledge that she continues to encourage and to motivate her Son's disciples, just as she did in those critical days immediately following The Passion, Death and Resurrection; days when the Apostles were at sixes and sevens, guilt-stricken and confused.. Her understanding of "his mercy extending from generation to generation" would have proved invaluable to them then, just as it is still there for us to draw upon, and will continue to be there, until the eternal fulfilment of all the elect.