The Reaction of Mercy

(The following is a homily given at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Enid, on the 11 Sunday in Ordinary Time -- 6/12/16)

Reading 1 2 Sm 12:7-10, 13

Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11

Reading 2 Gal 2:16, 19-21

Gospel Lk 7:36—8:3

As I prayed over our readings for today, I kept being confronted with the idea of action and reaction.  The readings show us how this natural law plays out in our life of faith, particularly, in the idea that the action of acknowledging our sinfulness is vital to bring about the reaction of God’s Mercy. 

Our first reading starts us off with the story of Nathan the prophet confronting King David after David had committed adultery with Uriah’s wife Beersheba and subsequently had Uriah killed by placing him at the front lines of battle with the Ammonites.  Despite all the blessings that had been placed upon David, he had chosen to act upon his passions, sinning against God.  Because of this, Nathan prophesies the reaction: that “the sword shall never depart from [David’s] house” but that it would eventually come to define him and his family, leading to his destruction. (see 1^st reading)  In response, David shows remorse and says: “I have sinned against the LORD.” (Ibid)  With these simple words – and with the not-as-simple acknowledgement of and repentance for sin – David resets the clock, so to speak.  Nathan replies – “the LORD, on his part, has forgiven your sin”.(Ibid)  Interestingly, however, the consequences for David’s sin are not removed.  He must still face the suffering that his actions have set in motion, learning to rely on God’s strength to get him through.

This points to something very important about forgiveness.  Forgiveness does not negate consequences.  The Lord is very ready to offer his forgiveness, but that does not meant that the suffering that comes about because of sin will go away.  Suffering will continue to linger, telling us that something bad has happened in our lives because of the fallen world we live in.  We don’t have to be the direct cause of the suffering like David was to feel its effects in our lives, and oftentimes we’re not.  What is important for us to learn is how we can give our suffering purpose by relying of God strength to endure. 

Acknowledging that suffering is a consequence of sin helps us to start that process, but that alone is not enough.  It is not enough because we know at our core that we were not made to suffer.  Our creator did not design us to endure suffering any more than he designed us to sin, and so our nature, while naturally inclined to sin – and so suffering -- now fights against itself to try to retrieve what it has lost.

This action of the struggle brings about the reaction of God’s response – and that response is Jesus Christ.  In Christ we are given the ability to take on the strength of God through his suffering on the Cross, where the action of sin was met with a reaction: the reaction of Mercy.

My brothers and sister, the suffering of Christ on the Cross continues in His body the Church to this day. This is how we may continue to suffer yet be assured that our suffering – whatever it may be – can mean sharing in the redemption of the world.  We as members of His Body the Church, renew St. Paul’s words today by being “crucified with Christ; yet we live, no longer ourselves, but Christ lives in us.” (2^nd reading).

Acknowledging the action of our sin gives us the greatest reaction we could possibly hope for in the Mercy of God.  May we continue to cling to the faith of Christ which saves us, and so bring its peace to those who have yet to acknowledge the struggle waged within each of us (see Gospel).  May we become for the world God’s reaction of mercy.