The Relationship of Mercy

When I was in Second Year Theology, I was in-charge of the Seminary’s Apostolate to the Indigents. And every Friday afternoon, Indigents would come in groups, some are from Tagaytay, some from Dasma, some are same people who keeps on coming everyday, and still others are new faces. The Apostolate was funded by no less than the pink sisters back then, through the Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA).

Holding that apostolate for a year I got the same routine every Fridays and one could fall into the temptation of simply becoming a dispenser of relief. You just give the relief asked by the indigent without really engaging with the person. Once, I asked them what they needed and give, I leave them.

Consequently I became so familiar to becoming a dispenser of relief that I wasn’t attendive and willing to listen to stories. At the back of my mind, I grumble: Pare-pareho lang naman ang sinasabi ng taong ito. Minsan obvious pang nagsisinungaling. Pabalik-balik dito at nanghihingi.

But since there is fund intended for them, intended for this apostolate I presumed the luxury of dispensing the cash, or relief goods according to which assistance are being asked by the indigents. There was a steady steady funding so I didn’t have to hold back whatever assistance we could give to these people.

My whole perspective was narrowed to see these people as people who kept on coming bak every Fridays, nandito lang para humming, minsan nagiimbento pa ng kwento para lamang kaawaan.

But clearly, I missed out something. I was not being an Apostle to these people. I was not being Jesus to these people. I was not being a face of God’s mercy to these people. I was a mere dispenser of reliefs. I forgot that it was an apostolate; and the main idea is not so much of dispensing assistance but engagement.

I came to realize this when I was in the early days of my regency in Cebu; when one night I went along with the group of Bro. Paul to distribute condoms to women enslaved in prostitution. I realize we have these apostolates not merely on what they are or how we see them as they are. This daring apostolate has been at odds with some moral teachings of the Church but it is an apostolate that demonstrates mercy of which I myself have also learned from.

The group of Bro. Paul distributes condom not to condone the the industry which enslaves these women but to establish real time connections with these women, and once connections are established we pave the way for possible conversion and new life for these women. We can only do that when we go to them. We can only give them condoms for now so their health would not be compromised, and as yet are not ready to leave the industry.

From that experience, I realized that we have apostolates not because merely of dispensing assistance, but to establish connections; not just giving away of goods but drawing sheepfold towards us; not just a matter of dole out but a matter of establishing relationships that hopefully assist these people towards liberation and in turn we are evangelized about mercy, and evangelized of the face of Jesus in the downtrodden.

Yes, we can recognize the Lord in wounds of the downtrodden. We can recognize the Lord in the pain and suffering of humanity as long as we listen to their stories, as long as we engage, as long as we listen to them.

Yes, we can appreciate the beauty of our Christian faith in the light of Christian Charity. The best dioceses and congregations are always those whose social action commissions are strong and active because these dioceses and congregations have a realitime feel of its flock and charism.

Yes, we can invigorate our religious vocation when we become true to our calling of becoming Alter Christus to other people. Mercy becomes real when we live our vocations according to how Christ wanted us to live it and that is to live in service.

In the Gospel for today, the recognition of Thomas that Jesus is My Lord and My God which is the recognition of the high christological truth, presupposes the recognition of Mercy. When Thomas recognized Jesus as truly living and glorified, he recognized his own lowliness and he acknowledges the divinity of Christ; and what exists between Divinity and lowliness, between the God head and humanity is mercy.

Humans ask assistance or mercy from God, and God looks with mercy to humans. This picture depicts the relationship of God and the human race: God looking down with eyes of mercy to his subject, and humans looking up to God for mercy and help. This has always been the kind of relationship between God and man: the relationship of mercy.

This relationship of mercy is a relationship established by Christ himself on the cross. Mercy is about our heart speaking directly to the heart of God. Heart to heart. There is relationship. There is engagement. There is connection. There is faith.

Our first reading gives us the image of Mercy as a characteristic of a believer; because as a believer who lives in a community, mercy could only take place when there is genuine relationship and faith. Faith is the Chanel of mercy. Mercy is a “love that responds to human need in an unexpected or unmerited way.” At its core, mercy is forgiveness. 

The pattern of God's dealings with people in the Old Testament, at the core of which is mercy, also provides the shape for understanding his dealings in the New Testament. God desires a relationship with humankind, but must show mercy to them in order for this relationship to be built. Of course, the New Testament expounds the theme of God's mercy in the light of Christ, the supreme expression of love, mercy, and grace.

Mercy is the free gift of God, and as such it is not to be kept to oneself but must be passed on as in the parable of the unforgiving servant. It is a free gift. What do we do when one is free? We give it away. We pass it on. We pay it forward.

When God looks down to us, show us his mercy, it does not mean we are degraded in dignity. Instead we are restored and are put in the position of power to be merciful like he is.

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Reading 1

ACTS 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 R/ (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R/ Alleluia. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.” R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R/ Alleluia. I was hard pressed and was falling, but the LORD helped me. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just: R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R/ Alleluia. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R/ Alleluia.

Reading 2

1 PT 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel

JN 20:19-31 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.