Reflection: His Mercy endures forever

How great is God's Mercy! In the Gospel of Luke, we see a sinful woman come up behind Jesus weeping at His feet, seeking His Mercy.

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that He was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind Him at His feet weeping and began to bathe His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.  Luke 7:36-38

Imagine you are the woman. Place yourself in the scene. As you draw near Jesus, you are trembling. The fragrance of the oil fills the room. You approach Him and touch His feet and pour out the oil. He reaches out and touches your head. You lift up your head and His eyes meet your eyes. Love pierces your heart. You are filled with His love and mercy. Jesus gazes at you with great love. He tells you your sins are forgiven and to go in peace. You are overcome with joy at this personal encounter with Jesus.

I recall a beautiful homily. The priest spoke of the alabaster jar of oil. He said the top of the jar had to be broken off for the oil to be poured out. He said, like the oil, the woman poured herself out and gave everything she had. She knows she is a sinner but she comes to Jesus seeking mercy. The priest said to ponder how she made a gift of herself to Jesus. The priest said to listen to the words during the Mass about the Blood being poured out for you.

During the Mass, at the time of the Eucharistic prayer, the priest calls down the Holy Spirit. Through the prayers of the Consecration, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus, our Lord becomes Present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

These are the words of the prayer:  "In a similar way, taking the chalice, filled with the fruit of the vine, He gave thanks, and gave the chalice to His disciples saying, Take this all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me."

As the oil is poured out of the alabaster jar, the sinful woman poured herself out, the Blood is poured out.  Let us ponder these words: "The chalice of My Blood poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His Mercy endures forever. Psalm 118:1

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.  Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Draw close to Jesus. He is waiting for you. He will receive you with open arms and He will pour out His love and mercy upon you. 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.