Mercy in the Liturgy
As we celebrate this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we might look to others for inspiration, those whose lives demonstrated the mercy of God. One such person was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whom we remember this weekend. Dr. King, whose father and grandfather were Baptist Ministers, was largely inspired by his faith, specifically, the words and the actions of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus’ commands to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ and to ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ taught King powerful lessons about God’s mercy.
If we are attentive, we too can learn lessons about God’s mercy every time we celebrate Mass. God’s mercy is a subtle theme throughout the liturgy, but there are many times when mercy is explicitly mentioned. One of those times is during the Penitential Act when we pray, “Lord have mercy.” This prayer is not a means to beat ourselves up because of our sins. Rather it is a prayer of praise that acknowledges that God’s mercy is greater than any act of sin. A prominent liturgist likened the Penitential Act to a poor widow living in the slums who just discovered that she won the lottery. The only response she could utter was, “Lord, have mercy.”
In the Gloria, we sing “…you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.”
In the proclamation of the Scriptures, we hear about God’s merciful love throughout salvation history, how God chose over and over to show mercy over judgment to a sinful humanity.
In the Eucharistic Prayer, we pray for God’s mercy, “Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep and all who have died in your mercy.”
In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray that God will show us mercy, and that God will help us to be merciful to others, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Before we approach the table of the Lord, we pray, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.”
In Holy Communion, we encounter the intimacy of God’s merciful love poured out for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Finally, we are sent forth to be God’s mercy in the world, “Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful. Go in peace.”
As we continue this Year of Mercy, let us pray that we, like Dr. King, will be inspired by the words and rituals of our faith, upholding the vision of peace and justice for all of humanity.