God's Grace is Abundant

Homily for Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

In the Gospel text for today, Jesus uses a parable to remind us of our need look at our brothers and sisters without judgement. When we are ready to criticize another, we should take a step back and look within ourselves.  Often the reason we criticize another is because the same flaw, habit, or tendency lies within us. We are repulsed when we see the flaw in action, because it is like looking in the mirror. Jesus tells us to look inside because he is encouraging us to be better, in essence, to open our eyes to the truth about ourselves so that we can move forward in a better way, for God’s greater glory.  This is mercy. This is God’s merciful love telling us, “Take time to reflect. As you want to judge another, is there something you want to bring to me for healing, love and mercy?”

At the beginning of St. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy, it is readily evident that Paul has looked into the mirror and recognized his need for mercy. “I have been mercifully treated,” he acclaims after reminding Timothy of his former way of life. He goes on to say, “The grace of our Lord has been abundant.” The same abundant mercy is available to us as well. Not taking advantage of it is like someone who is dying of thirst while sitting at the side of a well. All we have to do is to drink from this spring of salvation. The memorial Jesus gave us is an ordinary function of every human being – eating and drinking. We literally ingest the mercy of God each time we go to communion.