Opportunity for Mercy

I live in the Dallas area. I have lived here my entire life. I went to school here, I worship here, I raise my kids here, I educate kids here, and I counsel our community.

I am hurt.

Like so many around the world, I watched the events of July 7^th unfold live on television. I was horrified, scared, stressed, and completely devastated. I realize that there are implications on many fronts: political, social, and religious. I am not an expert on any of those, but I can tell you what I do know. I found myself, along with many others, at Mass on Friday. I know I needed something, assurance of sorts, peace from chaos, my soul to settle. I needed Jesus.

To a Catholic, the highest point of the Mass is the consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ. When we receive Jesus during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we receive grace and mercy. Maybe that’s what we need. With Pope Francis declaring this the Year of Mercy, it feels as though we are given opportunity after opportunity to learn what mercy is. It’s heartbreaking.

St. Thomas Aquinas describes mercy as “heartfelt sympathy to another’s distress.” As humans, how we can experience and offer mercy to one another? It’s precisely because we are human that we can experience mercy. Because of our own sinfulness and fallen nature, we are able to thoroughly be present to the virtue of mercy. Mercy was given to us by God and He has enabled us to give to others. That is the value of the Year of Mercy. The opportunity to give mercy to others.

The Gospel on Sunday after the shooting was that of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke. How appropriate. The command of God is to give to others regardless of race, creed, color, or beliefs. We are commanded to love our neighbor as yourself. In general our law enforcement community lives the Gospel of Luke every day. They give of themselves without question to others in our community. Without question they run towards conflict when others run away. Since 9/11, the country has not experienced such a great depth of sadness as they experienced after July 7, 2016. What is unique is that while this event might define political declarations moving forward, the heart and unity of the Dallas community has not changed. We do not experience the division other cities suffer from. We do not hate as others seem to. We choose love. The greatest of all of God’s commandments.

Luke 10:27 He replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

The Dallas Police Chief had very wise words for the wife of fallen officer Sgt Michael Smith. In all things rely on God to show you the way. Click here.