Year of Mercy Reflection

Friday, Jan. 15, 2016

Editor’s note: During the Year of Mercy, the Intermountain Catholic will publish a short reflection each week written by a variety of Catholics in the Diocese of Salt Lake City: priests, deacons, religious, seminarians, Utah Catholic Schools teachers/principals, lay ecclesial ministers, religious education teachers and others. We hope you enjoy these, and that they give insight into the myriad ways mercy can be incorporated into everyday life.

 

My Jesus, Mercy!

When I was a young sister in the Novitiate, I remember one of our retired sisters telling me that I should say the following prayer: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner,” or the shortened mantra, “My Jesus, mercy.” She made a habit of reciting it all day. I did try to say it but, in my young spirituality, I did not really understand its significance. Now, as we embark on the Jubilee Year of Mercy, I have decided to revive that prayer and use it more regularly throughout the year.

As we grow in our awareness of our sinfulness, mercy takes on greater meaning. It seems that as one ages there is more wisdom to bring to our words and our prayers. 

Our God is a merciful God, forgiving us through the gift of his Son. This Sunday, the Gospel from Luke recalls the Scripture quoted by Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”  

This proclamation embodies God’s mercy. Compassion, forgiveness, acceptance and love are fulfilled and lived out through Jesus. As the second reading from Corinthians reminds us, we are the body of Christ. Therefore, we are called to work toward freeing the oppressed, healing the blind, and proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord.  

As Christ’s body, we are agents of God’s mercy. Accepting God’s mercy acknowledges that we believe we are freed of our sins and journeying toward the ultimate union with our God. During this Year of Mercy, join me in praying, “My Jesus, mercy.”

Sr. Karla McKinnie

Director of Special Needs Program

Utah Catholic Schools