Mercy
Think for a moment. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Peter denied Jesus three times. All but John deserted Jesus in his most hour of need. You have watched him scourged but out of fear ran away with the thought if you stayed you would be crucified too. Jesus is dead and you have given up all hope.
Now Jesus is standing in front of you. What are you thinking? Is it a ghost? What kind of power does Jesus have to overcome death? Will he kill us immediately for running away and deserting him? Will he punish us for not being there? Will he berate us, call us liars, cheats, scoundrels? We are guilty, are we not?
But this is Jesus. And if we can just pause for one moment and remember his teachings. Would we entertain such thoughts?
I like to think of the virtues. Faith, hope, and charity. Joy, peace, kindness, hospitality, peace, and others. Now if I were to stack them up in order of importance. What would you put at the top? May I propose mercy.
Yes, mercy should be at the top. Jesus was always willing to grant mercy no matter what was done or how it was done or to whom it was done. Mercy. Sweet mercy, a willingness to forgive. Perhaps that is why we look forward to this Sunday known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen