Saturday August 19th, 2017 Romans 11:1-2a,29-32
For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. (verse 32)
My wife and I keep busy raising four children: two sons and two daughters, aged from 4-10. Four children in a house that is frequently run by a solo parent can be a loud and obstreperous place. When the boys aren’t getting into mischief, it’s the girls; and if there’s no one getting into any-watch out! Something big is being planned.
It’s natural for children to push back against boundaries and rules. They’re trying to discover who they are and how to interact with their world. Despite their ability to be a raucous crowd, our children know that rules and boundaries are kept with love and mercy, and are respected. Yes, transgressions happen, but their reaction when they realize they have done wrong is not one of fear.
How do we see ourselves in relationship with God? Are we in endless pursuit of perfection and desperately afraid to fail? Or are we aware of our own failings and frailties, as well as those around us, and so interact with all with the same measure of mercy that is given to us by God?
May we find that our love of God’s mercy is reflected in our gifts of mercy towards others.
Lord God, may we be merciful to others, as you have been merciful to us. Amen. — MHM
Contributed by No Child Left Behind
My wife and I keep busy raising four children: two sons and two daughters, aged from 4-10. Four children in a house that is frequently run by a solo parent can be a loud and obstreperous place. When the boys aren't getting into mischief, it's the girls; and if there's no one getting into any-watch out! Something big is being planned.
It's natural for children to push back against boundaries and rules. They're trying to discover who they are and how to interact with their world. Despite their ability to be a raucous crowd, our children know that rules and boundaries are kept with love and mercy, and are respected. Yes, transgressions happen, but their reaction when they realize they have done wrong is not one of fear.
How do we see ourselves in relationship with God? Are we in endless pursuit of perfection and desperately afraid to fail? Or are we aware of our own failings and frailties, as well as those around us, and so interact with all with the same measure of mercy that is given to us by God?
May we find that our love of God's mercy is reflected in our gifts of mercy towards others.
