-
Our Faith
-
 DIVINE
MERCY
- By Fr. KJ Veeger,
MSC
- There has been a time when God was
predominantly seen as the Great Lawmaker who demanded adoration and
obedience, and whose justice was interpreted as punishment. However,
since Jesus Christ, and in Him, a tremendous reversal occurred. It was
not so, that obedience did not have a place any longer in man’s
relationship with his Creator. But in Jesus Christ, God manifested
Himself
 primarily
as Love and Mercy Incarnate, full of compassion for mankind, and thus,
to be trusted by man absolutely. Jesus revealed to mankind that God’s
Justice is not above all punishment, but justifying power, which is the
fruit of His infinitely great work of redemption. Man’s response in the
form of obedience was no longer because of fear, but became an
expression of his love for God. In the words of Jesus: “Whoever accepts
My commandments and obeys them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:21).
-
- Being God of Mercy means forgiveness
and salvation. When Jesus appeared to His apostles in the evening of His
resurrection, one of the first things He said to them was, “Receive the
Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you will forgive, they are forgiven”
(John 20:22-23). The life of all His disciples should be an imitation –
be it a far imitation – of God’s forgiveness. The apostle John heard
Jesus praying a few moments before His death, “Father, forgive them for
they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Earlier He had
taught His disciples how to pray with the words, “Forgive our sins, as
we forgive those who have sinned against us” (Matthew 6:12).
-
- However, no soul will be justified
unless the person concerned turns with confidence to God’s Mercy. In the
abyss of this Mercy, the greatest sinners have even priority rights
before others. Before Jesus will come back at the end of time as the
just Judge, He first opens the gate of His Love and Mercy. He who fails
or refuses to pass through it will have to pass through the gate of
God’s vindictive Justice.
-
- Don’t say that your sins are too many
and too great, so that you can’t expect to find mercy. Zacheus was an
oppressor and extortioner, who had become rich by fraud and deceit. Yet
Jesus brought salvation to his house. Saul had been blasphemous and
persecuting the saints and servants of God. Yet God had washed away all
his sins. Remember the poor Publican how he found favor from God while
the proud and conceited Pharisee who, puffed up with his own
righteousness, was rejected? If you go to Jesus as the poor publican,
with a sense of your own unworthiness, you shall find favor.
-
- Is there something better we can do
than entrusting ourselves sincerely and full of repentance to God? Is
there something more joyful in life than hearing God say that in Jesus
He had washed us clean, making our life whiter and brighter than wool or
snow?
-
- There might be an obstacle! The
suffering and evil people impose upon each other sometimes make it very
difficult to believe in God’s Goodness and Forgiveness. Evil seems to be
so overwhelming. God seems to be so far off! For many a person, the
Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus suffered His agony, symbolizes their
life as it goes. However, for those who day after day believe in God’s
Goodness, sufferings are moments only, while Mercy and Joy are
everlasting. Once it happened that Peter had cried out to Jesus, “Go
away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). But Jesus
replied to Peter, and all of us, that those who carry the heavy burden
of sin, or who suffer from the sins of others, should come to Him. He
would not only alleviate their burden, but even change it into deeply
felt joy, the fruit of His Mercy.
- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has something
wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your
prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s
whisper?
- Have you felt His
powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people are
experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that very
few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to
share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us
(021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be
a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like
it is!
- Don’t forget to write
the subject: “Let Me Tell You A
Story”
Please take a
moment to sign our guestbook.
For comments, suggestions or
ideas:
Genesis Catholic
Community - All Rights Reserved 2004
No part of this website may be copied,
reproduced or modified without the permission from the
webmaster.
|
IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Inspirational
Community Life ~ Here's the Latest
By Beth Manibog
Genesis Chronicles
By Chen Manabat
Surabaya Sharing
By Bombet Malinao
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
Source: Catholic Online
- Meet the
Staff
-
-
-
Catholic
Links
-
-
- PROFILE OF THE
-
GENESIS CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY
|
