Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
God will cast our sins into the depths of the sea.
Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Your brother was dead and has come to life. 

“God is mercy within mercy within mercy.” Thomas Merton ¹

In these readings, we are plunged into an experience of God’s mercy.  God’s infinite, forgiving and reconciling compassion is poured out through the mouth of the prophet Micah, then the psalmist sings of God’s mercy and in a familiar reading from the Gospel of Luke, we experience the loving embrace of a merciful parent for their broken, humbled and trembling child. Surely, I am not worthy of this mercy . . . but I am.  

Recently, I wronged someone I admire.  From my human brokenness I chose to “throw someone under the bus.”  Realizing how my fear turned into shame and lack of honesty affected her, I felt strongly that I needed to apologize.  I almost didn’t – because I didn’t want to admit my mistake and show her my messy, broken, vulnerable humanity.  

By God’s grace, not my own strength, I was able to apologize and allowed her to see the shadow side that I hide. To my surprise and relief she forgave me and actually thanked me for my honesty.  I felt so unworthy of her merciful compassion.  Yet, I immediately felt lighter, as if I’d been set free . . .

I wonder . . . is that how the prodigal son/daughter felt?

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¹Thomas Merton, The Sign of Jonas, (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1953), p. 362.