Mercy

I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.
Mt.12:7

Jesus shows what the highest sacrifice looks like. It looks like mercy.

Something in me thrilled when I heard Pope Francis say, "Who am I to judge?" Without going down the rabbit hole of what he was being asked to judge, I fell more in love with our Pope, the Pope history is already calling the Pope of Mercy.

The foundation of my Christian hope is mercy. Without mercy I'm a dead man walking. 

Was Jesus saying that sacrifice is of no value? I think not. Giving up something of value for the sake of another is a great virtue, something Jesus did for me on the Cross. But, like Jesus' death on the Cross, true sacrifice is first motivated by mercy.

Where does this leave me? Grateful for the mercy given me and motivated pass it on. 

To quote Pope Francis, "Mercy is the true power that can save humanity."

Less of Me More of Him

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mt.11:28

Jesus invites me to surrender the exhausting burden of trying to control or earn my own salvation and instead walk through life in partnership with him.

Less of me and more of him gives most of rest.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, please pray for me.

The Cost

Peter said to Jesus, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What, then, will we have?’ 
Mt.19:27

Peter asks what's on everyone's mind. In following you, what's the cost?

Fear of the "cost" of being a follower held me back for years. In becoming Christian, I knew that my life would have to change and that thought was scary. In the end it wasn't that I hated the rubbish in my life that gave me the desire to change. It was realising that he first loved me, with all my rubbish. His perfect love casts out all fear. 

Oh the blessed change. It's not only the promise of a hundredfold return in eternal life, it's also the peace, hope, joy and love I have now.  I weighed it up and he was worth it. 

Saint Benedict, please pray for me.

Wisdom and Innocence

I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Mt.10:16

Jesus prepares the twelve for the hostility they will encounter. The virtues required? Wisdom and innocence.

This can be taken as advice for life today. As long as I'm on this mortal coil striving to live a Christian life, I am an alien in a hostile land, a sheep among wolves.

Serpents and doves seem unlikely allies. Yet Jesus insists they have the attributes, when combined, that will protect me. Wisdom will help me know how and when to act. Innocence ensures my heart, motivating my actions, remains pure. 

Today, may I be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. 

Holy Emptiness

Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey.
Mt.10:9,10

Jesus commissions the twelve by giving them... nothing. At least nothing material. Their mission is to rely on providence. 

I'm a "dot your i and cross your t" man. Spreadsheets? Love em. Jesus' approach to mission preparation is foreign to me. 

Maybe the sweet spot is somewhere between effort and commitment and that "holy emptiness". At the moment I'm all effort and commitment. I need to loosen my grip on self-sufficiency and work on expanding my God space, that space in which only he can provide. 

Jesus, I open my palm up to you, trusting in your provision. 

Authority

Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority...
Mat.10:1

Jesus' first act on forming the Church was to give it authority.

Recognising authority seems to invoke faith, faith in the one who gives that authority. The Centurion's great proclamation of faith started with, "I too am a man under authority." 

I believe authority is one of the primary differences between Protestant and Catholic churches. The Protestant Church invites me to have an opinion about doctrine. The Catholic Church invites me to believe... believe in the God given authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. 

I don't trust my opinions. I do trust the Church's teaching authority of the Magisterium. This authority is a strong foundation from which to "Go and make disciples of all nations."

Jesus, I place my trust in you.

Compassion

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 
Mt.9:36

A harassed, helpless crowd would make me want to run. Not Jesus, whose response was compassion.

The Latin root for compassion means "to suffer together". I feel empathy from another person when they draw me in rather than push me away. I know I am important to them at that moment. 

To suffer together with another I need to recognise our shared humanity, something Jesus did constantly. Prince or pauper, they have the same red blood and beating heart as myself. This is a good starting point for developing compassion.

Jesus, break my heart with the things that break yours.