This week we continue our look at how God’s mercy endures in our lives. The last two weeks we named how mercy endures through God’s ongoing creation and through God’s dwelling in our world and in us. How do we come to understand God creating and dwelling in our world, though?
Through God’s revelation; God seeking to make Himself known to us.
Examples in Scripture:
If we look to scripture, we see many examples of God revealing Himself …
- To Moses in the burning bush
- To Elijah in the whispering wind
- To Isaiah through hearing God’s voice
- To Mary through an angel
- To Joseph in a dream
- To Paul through a lightening strike on the road to Damascus
God’s revelation happened through generations and generations. All the way to Jesus revealing Himself fully in the person of Jesus.
God’s Revelation is for each of us:
God’s gift of revelation is not just for men and women of the Bible, but for each of us. We are drawn into relationship with God and through our relationship with God we are shown His love, kindness, generosity, compassion, and forgiveness. We are revealed things about God over time. This is similar to how we come to know another person we are in relationship, slowly as we get to know the other person. As trust builds and as our relationship with God grows, we learn more and more about God.
God’s revelation always reminds me of a flower bud that begins tightly closed, holding the surprise of what it might be. Over time, the bud begins to open, and we see a glimpse of color or a hint of what it might be. Then, as the flower remains in the sun the bud fully opens to reveal the fullness of who it is. So it is with God’s revelation to us: we are, yet, to see the fullness of God, but there is a continual unfolding.
The great news is— God is not done revealing things to us about Himself. We always have more to learn. What might God be revealing to the world right now? What might God be revealing to us? This is a vital aspect of God’s mercy, that God is not done teaching the world about God’s love, compassion, kindness.
Why does Mercy Matter?
Even when we think that God cannot possibly bring forth newness or teach us more to help a situation, there is still more that God seeks to reveal to us. What a gift of hope– to know that God will not rest until God reveals Himself to us!
Join us next week as we look at God’s gift of mercy through the way God calls us!
Want to go deeper?
- Have you read Pope Francis’ Papal Bull announcing the Year of Mercy? It’s a short read that explains what this year is all about!
- Consider praying with these scriptures this week:
Becky Eldredge
Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.
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