Imitating the Merciful father

Imitating the Merciful father

         

           St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Founder of the Society of Jesus, instructs each and every Christian to become like God. The principle and foundation of his ‘Spiritual Exercises’ illustrates that we, the human beings have been created to attain this goal of becoming like God. God, who created all the creatures with His Word alone, used His Word, Spirit and action in the creation of man. He has also given His image and likeness to man, intending that the man should live his life according to the image, he is carrying. Hence, the purpose of our being is to fulfill this intention of God. To fulfill this, we should become like God. Now, one may raise a question whether it is possible to become like God. It is very much sure that we can never become God, whereas, we all can become like God. The simplest and only way to become so is to imitate God.

            Imitating God does not mean that we should appear like God. We look like God whether we want it or not, because we have been created in His image. But, when we think about the likeness of God, there arises the question, what should we do to work according to the likeness of God. The likeness of God is nothing but the compassionate love and mercy. God, Himself revealed His likeness, when He made all His goodness pass before Moses. The Lord passed before Moses, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6)”. Our Lord Jesus Christ also portrayed that our Father is merciful.

            The Israelites, the chosen tribe of God, believed in the beginning that God is just and if anyone does any evil in the sight of God, He will punish the evil doer. But in the history of Israel, we see that God showed His tenderness and compassion, very many times. Eventhough the people of Israel had gone away from the presence of God so many times, because of their stubbornness, He forgave and guided them like a shepherd. And all the prophets preached that the people should turn to God from their evil ways because God was ever ready to welcome them (Joel 2:12-14).

            In the case of the people of Nineveh also, we realize the mercy of God in His question to Prophet Jonah: “Should I not be concerned about Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than two thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals? (Jon. 4:11)”. Thus we come to learn that God, the Father is all tenderness, compassionate love and mercy.

            This merciful Father calls all His people to be merciful like Him, through His Son Jesus, the visible face of the invisible Father of mercy (Lk. 6:36). So, it is our duty to imitate God’s mercy in our day to day activities. We have certain ways to show our mercy to our fellow brethren. The first and foremost among them is to forgive the misdeeds of our neighbours and to accept them as they are. We all know that to err is human. So, when anyone of our neighbours commits any wrong against us, we must forgive him. Then only, we become worthy enough to ask God to forgive our own sins (Lk. 11:4).

            Secondly, Lord Jesus has introduced us to some of the works of mercy, in His preaching so that by following those, we can prove our real discipleship. They are: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, taking care of the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead. Lord Jesus has also stressed that these are the steps to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 25:34-40).

            Our Mother Church also has given some wonderful methods of showing mercy. She, through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, has instructed seven spiritual deeds of mercy. Through his Bull of indication, Misericordiae Vultus, our Holy Father Francis has also reminded us to do those deeds of mercy. They are: to consol the doubtful, to instruct the ignorant, to admonish the sinners, to comfort the afflicted, to forgive offences, to bear patiently those who do us ill and to pray for the living and the dead (MV 15).

            Similarly, standing with the oppressed and marginalized, struggling for their fruitful life, fighting for the rights of the people and opposing the authorities who don’t care for them are also deeds of mercy; because all of them come from the mercy we have for the people.  Our Lord Jesus was very clear in this mission of mercy and so, he was persecuted and crucified by the authorities.

            These acts of mercy are difficult to be followed. But, there are number and number of saints, who followed these things, identified by our church. We should not forget that we should be the signs of opposition, like Jesus, when we follow them. Blessed Oscar Romero is a very good example for this. Until he was a traditionalist, his life was very smooth. But when he started to have mercy on the people who were tortured by the rulers, he had so many problems, and finally for that he had to sacrifice his life.

            For this sacrificial love and mercy only, we have also been called. So, let us also start to be merciful to our brethren and show our mercy in our deeds. When we do so, we will not be far from the kingdom of God.

Bro. Praveen Raj K.J.