Living in a Sea of Mercy

Over the years I have tried to share with you my experience, strength and hope regarding our faith in Christ Jesus.  As we say in AA, we “trudge the road of happy destiny.”  It is an apt description of our journey in faith together.  It is all about the road - the journey; the destination will take care of itself.  The destination is the Kingdom of God and the fact is we have already arrived there, or here if you will.  Jesus says “the Kingdom of God IS at hand.”  Rules, doctrines even papal pronouncements will not save us; only accepting the invitation into God’s realm will do it.  Only by living in our lives the death and resurrection that Jesus lives in us will do it.

The primary invitation into God’s realm is found at the beginning of John’s Gospel: The next day John the Baptist was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples* heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.”

We live in a sea of mercy and love, the sea of redemption but many of us are 

unaware of it.  Perhaps the realm of God is like a public swimming pool.  One of my Paulist professors in the seminary taught himself how to swim by reading a book.  We can read the book, learn all the technics, know all the safety rules - becoming experts in the art of swimming but none of it means anything until we dive in.  Many Catholics spend their entire lives sitting by the side of the pool, reading the rule books, and never experiencing the joy and failure of actually swimming; and being held by the very water they may fear.

The entry fee into God’s realm is that we be a sinner.  There are no self-righteous, perfect, egomaniacs in God’s realm only avowed sinners.  Jesus says:  “I came to call sinners, not the self-righteous.”  The entry fee is simply to accept the unconditional love of God and to share this Good News with others.

Life in this sea of mercy and love is all about expanding our awareness of God’s saving presence.  In this pool, this community of faith we call Church, is about becoming more and more aware of the other swimmers - enjoying the fact that the sea of love and mercy is sustaining and holding us all up so that none of us drown.  Each and every day, everyone we see from afar or touch - all are living in the realm of God; many just don’t know it.  All of us are in the same public pool - no exceptions.  

Some folks are swimming well, others not so much.  The future of our parish, the future of the Church depends not so much on well conceived plans, programs or even homilies but on how well we come to aid those in trouble, to make sure that all are welcomed here no matter what - no exceptions.  The Christians of the first century were not noted for their creeds, or eloquence, or fancy liturgy but in how they loved one another - cared for one another.  It is still true  today.  May people say of us, “see how they love one another.”

Fr. Michael