Mercy throughout the Liturgy

Ihad the wonderful opportunity to spend two summers in Graz, Austria, with the American Institute of Musical Studies. It was a glorious experience, except for a few hours one day.

A friend and I were traveling across town to a laundromat, which involved walking to the tram with bags of laundry in tow and transferring to a bus to reach our destination. Getting off the bus, I noticed that something was missing—my purse! Panic doesn’t come close to what I felt. So much of what I needed, including my passport, was in my purse. I left my laundry with my friend and hopped on the next bus, trying to explain my crisis with my limited German.

A kind man who understood English took me to the city’s center for transportation. There, the staff looked at me with sympathetic eyes, encouraging me to check for my purse later but saying there was little chance I would get it back. After a couple of hours and many prayers to St. Anthony, I returned. This time their eyes were brighter. They reached into the lost-and-found cabinet and out came my purse. I looked inside and everything was there. My response was one of humility and gratitude.

Humility and gratitude are fundamental elements of liturgical prayer. For that reason, the Penitential Act follows soon after the priest’s greeting at the beginning of Mass. In the Penitential Act, the assembly humbly acknowledges that they often lose their way, while recognizing that God is always seeking the lost. With humility and gratitude to God’s faithfulness, the congregation prays, “Lord have mercy.” These words carry the realization that God’s mercy is greater than any sin.

God’s mercy is a subtle theme throughout the liturgy. In the Gloria we sing, “you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” As the Scriptures are proclaimed, the assembly hears about God’s merciful love throughout salvation history—how God chose, again and again, to temper judgment with mercy to a sinful humanity.

In the Eucharistic Prayer comes a call for God’s mercy, as the priest says, “Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy”

(Eucharistic Prayer II).

The assembly prays the Lord’s Prayer, petitioning for mercy from God and also seeking to be merciful as they pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Before the table of the Lord is approached for Communion, the faithful pray, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.”

While receiving Communion, people encounter the intimacy of God’s merciful love that was poured out in the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

At the Dismissal, the faithful are sent forth to be God’s mercy in the world. This mission was articulated especially with the dismissal text offered as an option during the Year of Mercy: “Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful. Go in peace.”

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer – First Sunday of Lent – February 26, 2023

It’s simple. 1. Read the Gospel for the following Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. 2. Reflect on the questions assigned for each day. 3. Make some resolution about how what you read can be lived that day. 4. Then thank God for speaking to you through this reflection.

The Gospel according to Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Monday

Was there something in this reading that spoke to me? Comforted me? Challenged me? What was it? Why did it have this effect on me?

Tuesday

The Gospel says that Jesus was led into desert to be tempted. Nowadays we don’t have to go as far. What would the devil offer me in the desert? Jesus quoted Scripture each time to defend himself. What do I do?

Wednesday

Jesus’ first temptation is hunger for food; he had been fasting. We practice a faint reflection of this rigorous discipline when we “give up something” for Lent or when we abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays. Have I ever truly given something up for God? For someone else? What did I learn from that that I can use in my relationship with God?

Thursday

Jesus’ second temptation is pride; the devil challenged him to reveal that he was God’s Son by glorifying himself, rather than through the humility of the cross. It is still common to refer to suffering or a burden as our “cross”. What is my cross? Do I shoulder it willingly as Jesus would soon do, or would the devil’s offer sound good to me?

Friday

Jesus’ final temptation is power; He could rule the world, all he had to do is break one little commandment – which is of course the first of the ten Commandments – worship God alone. None of us believe we commit idolatry. And yet, each day we put things in our lives ahead of our worship and service of God. What have I done today to put God first in my life? (yes, this prayer counts).

Saturday

After Jesus’ temptation is finished, it says Angels came and ministered to him. The word Angel means “messenger”. Jesus was comforted, supported, strengthened by these messengers. Have I ever been ministered to by an angel? When was it? And what was God’s message for me? (Remember, they don’t all have wings).