I Desire Mercy

By DEACON ROBERT YERHOT, MSW

When I was growing up in the fifties and sixties, in almost every Catholic home was prominently displayed the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a crucifix. Nowadays, this praiseworthy custom has fallen by the wayside. How I wish it were to return! I encourage all of you to get a crucifix and the Sacred Heart, hang them on the wall, and frequently look at them. They will help you answer two important questions: Who are you? What are you to do in life?

While it is true that each of us has a unique identity and a unique vocation for which God has created us, it is also true that we have some things in common. What we have in common can be found in the Divine Mercy flowing from the Sacred Heart on the cross. How necessary this is in our world today for us to become people of mercy!

The Sacred Heart of Jesus must beat in your heart! How can this happen? Where must we go so that Jesus’ own heart beats in us? We must go to the sources of mercy here on earth. The merciful Sacred Heart of Jesus beats on every altar every Sunday, giving us life, and it beats in every confessional, filling us with his mercy! We must come to the Eucharist if we are to live lives of mercy. We must not stay away. That is one reason God commanded us to keep holy the Sabbath. That is why we are obliged to come to Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation.

We must come also to confession where we encounter Divine Mercy. We all need forgiveness and mercy to penetrate deeply in hearts. The Sacred Heart of Jesus beats in us if we are in a state of grace. Jesus always is ready to remove any sinful obstacle to grace. That’s why we must confess any mortal sins as soon as we can, and regularly confess venial sins.

Your heart must beat with mercy! Your heart must be drenched with the mercy of God. If you accept mercy into your life, your heart will be able to show mercy for others. You must accept mercy in order to show it to others.

Do we? Do we allow the Sacred Heart of Jesus to penetrate our hearts? Will our hearts beat like the Sacred Heart of Jesus for our husbands, wives, children, parents, neighbors, fellow parishioners, and, yes, even for our enemies? Will we be merciful to those who do not deserve it?

Jesus had mercy on the repentant thief. Will we? Jesus told the adulteress, “I do not condemn you, but go and sin no more.” Will we have the same attitude with those who have betrayed our trust? Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus did not ask, “Why did you do that?” Rather, three times he asked, “Do you love me?” What will we say when someone denies us? Will we have mercy on the man on death row, or will we seek vengeance? Will we wage war or pursue peace? Will we love those who hate us, or will we hate in return?

To be merciful to those most difficult to forgive, those most difficult to love, we must pray, “Jesus, I trust in you!” If we neglect the Eucharist and confession, our spiritual lives will dry up and die. If we do not come to these sources of mercy, we will be unable to show mercy to others.

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, make my heart like yours. Make my heart beat with the mercy you have given to me. Jesus, I trust in you! Amen.

Deacon Robert Yerhot serves the parishes of St. Mary in Caledonia and St. Patrick in Brownsville.