Daily Reflection for Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday's readings at this link: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032222.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Responsorial: Psalms 25:4-5, 6 and 7, 8-9
Gospel: Matthew18:21-35
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
Do not take away your mercy from us. (Daniel 35)
As I reflect on today’s readings, I keep returning to this passage from the prophet Daniel - Do not take away your mercy from us. The passage pierces through my thoughts. Daniel’s plea was strong. Perhaps he knew that without God’s mercy, life would be lived from a place of woundedness versus from a place of forgiveness and healing.
Suffering is part of the human experience leaving us with questions that often go unanswered. Why didn’t they include me? Why did I get sick? Why don’t they love me? Why did they stop speaking to me? Why did they accuse me falsely? Why is there so much destruction in our world? Why are they trying to destroy us? Why did they hurt me? Why will they not forgive me?
I cannot imagine a life without God’s mercy. I join Daniel today, pleading with God to not take away God’s gift of mercy. Without God’s mercy, I would be consumed by the questions that are never answered to my satisfaction. Questions that continue to deepen my suffering.
Without God’s mercy, my wounds would never have a chance to heal, my suffering would never find relief, and my transgressions would never be forgiven.
God’s mercy is a gift. I don’t earn it; it is freely given. I pray God never takes it away. I cannot imagine a world without it. Where would be without your mercy, O God…where would we be?
May God’s mercy be your gift today,
Margarita Solis-Deal