Our Lord Will Never Abandon Us
We fall on our knees. We place ourselves there not just because we are in the Lenten season; we place ourselves there because the world right now is in great turmoil. But when hasn’t our fallen world been in turmoil? The Evil One has always been among us although now he seems to have legions of devils with him causing great suffering.
Reflecting on today’s readings should give us comfort that God is always with us, “For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to the afflicted. But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child in her womb? Even should she forget, never will I forget you.” (Is 49:13-15)
It is only natural that we desperately want to see judgment against those who cause the suffering; but the Psalmist points out that our God is “gracious and merciful; slow to anger and of great kindness…and compassionate towards all his works.” In other words, we must be supernatural; that is, beyond the natural since that is how our God operates and where He wants us to be.
A Judge of Mercy and Love
John’s Gospel emphasizes God as a judge of mercy and love. Jesus does not tell us to judge; that is not our role. Our role is to be merciful to others and do our best to be compassionate.
Several years ago, my family experienced both the very quick death of my mother to cancer followed by the lingering decline and death of my father after losing my mother. As the eldest daughter I fumed over what I saw as a lack of caring and assistance for my parents as they declined. My siblings and I had never been particularly close, and my parents’ deaths seemed to push us farther apart. For a longer time than I like to admit I fanned the flames of that estrangement until I was emotionally exhausted.
All Will Be Well
I realized I had stepped into the role of judge — and jury. Through much prayer of my own and my husband’s, I let go and handed it to God. God helped me be supernatural by praying for those siblings from whom I was estranged.
At the end of my time here on earth I pray God will see I have tried to do those good deeds to receive the resurrection of life. But my prayers are that all in my family will receive the resurrection of life.
In our own lives, we wrestle with personal demons of judging others and lacking compassion. I know that God is with me in the battle. Let us especially remember that God is with today’s world in battling the demons of bombing and destruction. We know that He will never forget those He loves.
