Comments on: I desire mercy, not sacrifice

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:49:43 +0000

I was struck by this post’s title, as I read yesterday’s Magnificat entry. Clearly, God the Father has always been love, and thus only desires love from and for his creatures. In the OT times, man was not ready for this. Going backwards, I then read last Friday’s entry, for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (I hadn’t read it in a timely manner). The reflective essay for that day was by a man talking about how Mary was the perfect creature. Her prayer for the savior to come was obliged and obeyed by the Word. God OBEYED man, as represented by Mary, our race’s greatest boast. Thus, salvation history entered its new era, when man finally comprehends what God wants: mercy. I recommend to all my fellow Catholics to receive communion and then walk back to your pew with your palms together and your right thumb over your left: mercy over justice. Quaint, but focuses the mind as one swallows Christ.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:08:54 +0000

Great question Nick…

This is exactly like the Gospel… It is an example of someone arriving at the spirit of the law without getting lost in the letter of the law. According to the Jewish authorities Jesus did break the laws (rubrics). All of the rules serve charity, charity is not subject to the rules… charity is the rule…

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:20:30 +0000

How is this like the Gospel? Jesus didn’t break Jewish law.

By: SuzyCCC

SuzyCCC — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:20:15 +0000

This story reminds me of an incident involving the sacrament of reconciliation and my son, and our beloved Pastor Fr. Gutgsell.
My son was 4. I wanted to go to confession on a Saturday afternoon, but had no sitter, and my husband was at work. I went and instructed my son to wait outside the confessional while I was inside. (These are the old fashioned ones with a kneeler and a screen.) Fr. Gutgsell interrupted my confession to ask if I had a little red-headed boy with me. I said yes, and he said, “Well, he’s with me now.” He then suggested I keep James in the confessional with me, which I did. I know some priests wouldn’t allow a small child in the confessional with his/her mother, even as infants. But that small kindness allowed me to get to confession regularly while my son was young! And James, now almost 10, prefers Fr. Gutgsell to all other confessors. God bless good and loving priests!

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:29:21 +0000

Great story! Thanks for sharing it, not a dry eye here. Could be, there will be a vocation in the making.

Reminds me of the story Bishop Sheen used to tell of two boys who each dropped cruets during Mass. One boy (Tito the dictator) was slapped by the celebrant; the other was reassured and encouraged (Bishop Sheen, himself.)

How we treat others says a lot to them about our faith.