Wed Mar 30, 2022

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 God tenderly loves His children with justice, mercy and compassion beyond measure.

Today's first reading (Is 49:8-15) is directed to the Hebrews exiled in Babylon. They are discouraged; they probably have been tempted to believe their God was no more powerful than the idols worshipped by their Babylonian captors. Isaiah brings them a word of comfort from the Lord – a word of promise and great compassion from God:

In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be.

...Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

God will restore His people to their heritage promised to Abraham. Their flocks shall once again graze on the hills of their land. God has not forgotten them.

Psalm 145 was composed roughly five hundred years before Isaiah. It celebrates the God of Israel who revealed Himself to Moses on Mt. Sinai, as a: “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;” (Ex 34:6-7) Psalm 145 reminds Israel that their God, unlike the gods of the other nations, is gracious, merciful, kind, compassionate, just, “raises up all who are bowed down” and is “near to all those who call upon Him... in truth.”

This is the God who comes to us in Jesus. He is one with the Father in loving-kindness, mercy, compassion, and has received the Father's role of Judge. “Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” Jesus raises to new life, and will call the dead forth from their graves with their glorified bodies at the final judgement: “the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Jesus is Lord. He is the Father's goodness, kindness, mercy and awaited just judgement, Who drew near to us, coming in the frailty of our human flesh. He is the father's compassion, Who raises us up when we are bowed down, Who comforts us in our suffering and promises the gift of eternal life with Him for those who follow Him with a sincere heart. He vindicates those who suffer for the cause of righteousness in this world.

Lord Jesus, Goodness, Kindness, Mercy and Justice of the Father, I give You all that I am and all that I have today. Be my true Comfort, and lead my loved ones and I forward through these uncertain times. May Your love and justice be my certitude and hope now and always, into eternal life with You. Amen.

Link to readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033022.cfm


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