MERCY

STRIKE THREE!!!  Are there any words more dreaded by a little leaguer (and older ones too). There is a feeling of embarrassment, dejection, worthlessness. But with real little ones, in T-ball, we don't count strikes. We say, Great swing! Just keep swinging till you hit the ball. And when they do, they often run every which way. Why do we treat them differently?

Perhaps we want to be more compassionate and understanding. Perhaps to build their self-confidence...their character.  More important than winning a game is how we help them grow to be their best. Perhaps we have discovered that the best way to help them become better players (and persons) is to affirm what they do well. When do we stop building self-esteem, character? NEVER.

It's worth noting that we were chosen by Christ at our baptism to be on his team. More important than any battle we fight and whether or not we win, is how we shape ourselves to become Christ-like. May we never let anyone or anything change us from being the person we, and Christ, want us to be.

In shaping our kids, and ourselves, whom do we look to? Many of us, particularly on this Mercy Sunday, turn to holy, peace-filled people like Pope Francis and Mother Teresa. But sometimes we are bombarded with violence, and we may want to be more like John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. No one messed with these guys. There was no such thing as mercy.

Who are the role models that really shape our character? Whom do we want to imitate?

Can we really try to live in our violent world like Francis and Teresa? Would society work that way?  It seems way too risky. What of law and order? What of justice? Still those of us who follow Jesus can't overlook that his message was, Be merciful! Do we believe in mercy or justice?

Perhaps it depends on whether it is we who are being judged. What do we look for in the Confessional (after confessing the same sin for the umpteenth time), justice or mercy? When a police officer stops us, do we want mercy or justice? When we misplace a bill and then forget about it until we receive the next and the interest and penalties are more than the initial charge, do we want justice or mercy?

Sometimes it's not bills that get lost, but we. Fifteen years ago our lives were shaken. We were lost...trying to make sense of what happened. Much too much of this senseless violence has continued and escalated. We are still trying to make sense of it. What do we do at times like these?

When we are lost and can't seem to find our way out, we can respond with anger or we can seek the peace of Christ within. We can let God find us...and comfort us...and lead us out of the darkness. Without God we remain lost, in the dark.

After 9/11, millions turned to God and returned to their faith. Churches were packed. Thousands responded with magnanimous hospitality and compassion in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada to host those who could not fly home to the U.S. because the borders were closed. We were united as one, not just in the U.S. but all over the world.  It brought out the best in us.

Sometimes we may hurt another, perhaps unintentionally and don't know what to do. And perhaps we find that we are forgiven...shown mercy...not because we earned it or even asked for it, but simply out of their goodness...their generosity of mercy. No strings attached.

That's what we heard in today's gospel passage of the Prodigal Son. The parable tells us of a father who is terribly wounded by his son, who basically said to him, I wish you were dead so I could get my inheritance. He receives it and wastes it all. When the son wants to return, the father responds with magnanimous mercy. But the older son is angry with the father's action and argues with him.  There's a part of the older son in all of us. We shouldn't be surprised if part of us wants to argue with God.  God's ways are not always our ways.

But if faith means anything, we must admit that God's way is the best way. Without God we remain lost.

When all is said and done, we must decide what will shape the person we want to be: justice or mercy?

When all is said and done, will it be, Make my day! or Let me make your day.?