Boundless Mercy of God
March 2, 2024 - Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Today's first reading comes from the Book of the prophet Micah, who preached at the end of the 8th century and the beginning of the 7th century before Christ. Micah is known for being the first prophet to predict the destruction of Jerusalem (see Micah 3:12) and the birth of the future Messiah (see Micah 5:1; Matt. 2:6).
Micah's most famous passage focuses on true worship. He emphasizes that God does not require sacrifices, but instead desires justice, kindness, and humility from His people (see Micah 6:6-8). The portion of Micah's book that we hear today concludes with a passage that the Jews still recite on the Day of Atonement:
"Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of His inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights in showing clemency, and will have compassion on us again, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from days of old" (Micah 7:18-20).
The message of Micah is echoed by the psalmist, who declares that the Lord is kind and merciful (Psalm 103:8). The psalmist emphasizes that God does not treat us according to our sins or crimes, but rather, His kindness and mercy surpass the heavens, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:10-12).
Both Micah and the psalmist pave the way for the New Testament, where Saint Luke describes God's mercy embodied in Jesus' interactions with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 15:1). The parable that follows, often referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, can also be viewed as the Parable of the Merciful Father. Despite the wayward son squandering his inheritance, he is welcome back with open arms by his father when he repents. The older brother's resentment and the father's response further emphasize the theme of God's boundless love and the invitation to reconciliation.
The parable of the Prodigal Son explains Jesus' compassionate attitude towards sinners and reveals the mystery of His life as the revelation of the Father's love for sinners (see Col. 1:15). This revelation of God's love reaches its highest point at the Cross, where Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8, 2 Cor. 5:18-21). Saint Faustina referred to Divine Mercy as "the greatest attribute of God," and Saint John Paul II called it "love's second name."
Throughout these passages, the unifying theme centers on the idea that, despite their failings and waywardness, God's mercy is extensive and His forgiveness knows no bounds. The call to repentance is met with the open arms of a loving and compassionate God who delights in restoring and reconciling His people. As St. John Paul II said, "In the mercy of God, the world will find peace, and mankind will find happiness."