Daily Reading: You Will Arise and Have Mercy

Today’s Readings for the Holy Mass

In today’s first reading from Isaiah, the Hebrew people cry out to God in the midst of His judgment against them. They are in exile due to their stubborn sinfulness. Since they chose time and time again to divide their love for God with the pagan gods, God abandoned them to their desires. They are now exiled from Jerusalem and made members of a pagan nation. God’s message to them is, “Stop waffling. Choose to serve the one, true God, or choose to put your faith in false idols. You can’t have it both ways.”

This reading reminds us that even God’s punishments are acts of mercy. God punishes only to change hearts, to help us love Him more completely.

That’s why the psalm takes up the theme of mercy.

You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that our hearts are often divided just as were the hearts of the Hebrew people. We may not struggle with pagan idol worship. But instead of loving God with our whole hearts, we fall in love with the world. Because the world cannot satisfy, we become weary and burdened. Jesus reminds us that to love Him with our whole hearts is freedom. His teaching is again an act of mercy.

Reflection Questions:
1. How has God shown you mercy in ways that might seem like a punishment? What lesson did He teach you?
2. What divides you from the love of God? What burdens have you taken upon yourself that you need to lay at the feet of Jesus?

Brought to you by Jeffrey S. Arrowood at From the Abbey, dedicated to helping you rediscover the JOY of learning and living your faith so you can grow in intimacy with God.