Let Mercy Lead

Eight years ago today, this country experienced one of the most horrific events in it’s history – the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon and the plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Today, many families are missing family members they lost in these attacks. Tears will be shed. Prayers will be prayed.

I, like most of the country, remember that day as if it were yesterday. The images that flickered on our television screens of the smoke and rubble were shocking and horrifying. But, through all the shock and sorrow of the scenes, what really struck me was not the people running from the scene, it was all of the people running TOWARD the scene. That was what brought a tear to my eye. In this time of extreme tragedy, people were coming together to help their fellow man. They put aside their fears for their own lives in order to help save others.

One such person was Father Mychal Judge, OFM, the chaplain of the NYFD. Father Mike was a Franciscan Friar who loved God and because of his love of God, let that love shine onto others. I recall seeing video of Father Mike near the site standing there with a concerned look on his face, his lips moving in prayer. Soon after, he went on into the lobby of the North Tower to offer help, prayers and to anoint the dead and injured. It was there, when the South Tower collapsed, that Father Mike was killed by flying debris. He died as he was praying, not for himself, but for others.

A very well known verse from the bible is where Jesus is quoted as saying, “Greater love has no one that this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). To put others before ourselves, that is what Father Mike and others did on that day. They lived as Christ instructed, to love one another and to take care of one another.

It seems that these days, there is so much hate in this world and so much divisiveness. People speak with venomous words whenever someone might happen to have a difference of opinion with them. They call names, glare, and admonish each other. It’s ridiculous.

The phrase “divide and conquer” comes to mind. I’m sure the devil is enjoying our divisiveness. We’re making it really easy for him to conquer.

So what can we do? How can we stop this? It’s simple. Let God’s love wash over you. Let Him use you as a mirror and reflect His love on others. God is love, not hate. Instead of our own agenda, we should let God's love and mercy lead us in our lives. God told us to love our enemies. Is it easy? No. But with God ALL things are possible.

We seem to be hung up on labels lately. Democrat/Republican. Black/White. Us/Them. There’s one label that we seem to forget. All of these people - regardless of race, political opinion or anything else – are Children of God. Shouldn’t we treat each other with respect, if not for just that reason?

"Let mercy lead, let love be the strength in your legs, and in every footprint that you leave, there'll be a drop of grace." ~ "Let Mercy Lead" by Rich Mullins (Brother's Keeper, 1995)

Happy Birthday, Mary!

Today the Catholic Church celebrates Mary’s birthday. Now, as a Lutheran before I was welcomed home to the Catholic Church, we didn’t talk much about Mary, except for right around Christmas, obviously, and maybe once or twice when we would talk about the wedding at Cana or around Easter. Other than that, Mary was just a character in the background. To me, though, I always loved Mary. I couldn’t explain it, but I have always held Mary in a high regard, even before I joined the Catholic Church. When I was young, much like other young children, my favorite part of decorating for Christmas was when we would put out the nativity scene. Our family’s nativity set was ceramic and the tallest figure was maybe 3 or 3½ inches high. Mary was my favorite, wearing white and robin’s egg blue with gold accents. She was kneeling and I would always place her on the right of the little baby Jesus in his manger. (Unfortunately, our baby Jesus figure either broke or got lost when I was very young and we could never find another in the correct size, so later we had our small figures with a giant baby Jesus in a huge manger!) I didn’t know much about Mary. I knew that she was Jesus’ mother….aaaand that was about it. All I knew was that I was drawn to her for some reason.

Later, when I began learning more about the Catholic faith, I learned more about Mary. As a Protestant, I had heard that Catholics worship Mary and the Saints, but quickly learned that was completely false. I learned that we pray to Mary and/or Saints for their intercession, much like we ask our friends and family to pray for us. I learned that Mary was given to us by Jesus to be our mother, and as our mother, she points us toward her son. She doesn’t want the glory - she knows that all glory should go to her Son.

Mary is an amazing woman. Think of her life…not a “normal” life by any means. Take a moment today and think about all she saw, all she experienced. A good starting point is to pray the rosary. Look at and meditate on the various mysteries. Mary was there for all of them. Can you imagine experiencing all these things? I can’t! How strong of a woman Mary must be to have handled all those things! We should all take a cue from Mary to look to her Son for all things!

Oh...and have a piece of cake today to celebrate!

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye cherubim, Sing with us, ye seraphim,
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, salve, salve Regina!

In Paradisium

Today is a sad day for my extended family. Had things gone the way we had all hoped and prayed that they would, things would be different and we would be celebrating rather than mourning. One year ago today, my cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. The pregnancy went without a hitch, as did the delivery. All was well, until an odd sound was picked up by the nurse. He was soon found to have a heart defect and would be in need of heart surgery ASAP. The new parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends found themselves praying that things would go well, and that soon he would be able to be brought home and grow up as normal as possible. Mom and dad had their son baptized at the hospital by their pastor, just in case. He was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and underwent surgery. It was a success! We rejoiced and prayed for a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, he began having other issues & other problems. More surgeries. More antibiotics. There was talk of putting him on the transplant list for a heart. Then in February, after many surgeries, little Brody’s body couldn’t take anymore. He passed away with his ever-loving parents beside him. It was heart-breaking for them, and for the rest of the family, to let him go to be with God.

It still hurts. It will hurt Brody’s parents for the rest of their time on Earth. But one thing holds us together, and that is the promise of Christ. Brody was and is a child of God. By the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, Brody is saved and now lives with our Lord in the glory of his kingdom. The pain that he felt during his short time on Earth is gone and he is whole. What joy and comfort that is to those of us that he left behind.

Today, say a little prayer for Brody and for his mom and dad, on this – what would have been his first birthday.

Eternal rest grant unto Brody, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the promises of Christ rest in peace.

Dona eis requiem sempiternam. In Paradisum. Christe eleison. In Paradisum.