Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather on this Saturday after Ash Wednesday, the Church invites us to reflect deeply on the call of mercy, a theme beautifully woven through our readings today. In Isaiah, God speaks to His people about the importance of compassion and the renunciation of oppression and malice. He calls us to care for the hungry and the afflicted, promising that when we do so, our lives will radiate His light even amidst darkness. This notion of light rising in darkness moves us toward a mission of hope, which is supported by love and mercy.
Our Gospel reading presents a vivid illustration of this mission. Jesus, the Divine Physician, reaches out to Levi, who becomes Saint Matthew, a tax collector despised by his own people, and calls him to follow. Here we see what it means to embody mercy and give someone hope. Jesus does not judge Matthew for his past but instead sees potential for redemption and a call to a new life. In this moment, He extends grace to the very ones society deems unworthy, inviting them to partake in the feast of His love. Matthew is not only called, but is chosen as an apostle by our Lord, and becomes a great evangelist to pass on the message throughout the generations.
Once again, today being Saturday, as we contemplate these messages of restoration and mercy, we can draw inspiration from our Blessed Mother, Mary. In her life’s journey of bringing Jesus into the world and then raise him, in his human nature, to embrace all virtue
and goodness, especially towards the afflicted, lost and broken-hearted, we see the perfect reflection of God's mercy at work.
Mary's pierced heart, evident at the foot of the Cross, reminds us of the importance of redemptive suffering. She did not judge those who persecuted her Son; instead, she stood in solidarity with Him, embracing the brokenness of their humanity. In her silent suffering, she offers us a model for how we ought to respond to others, inviting us to act with grace and understanding rather than condemnation. But she had a great and powerful weapon in her possession to be able to handle her suffering in this way – prayer.
During this Lenten season, we are reminded through the words of the psalmist to seek the Lord's guidance so that we may walk in His truth. There are many in our world today who, like Saint Matthew, formerly Levi, are trapped in cycles of sin, hurting and lost. God calls us not to turn away in judgment but to reach out in love, comfort, and support. Every act of kindness, every refusal to gossip, every moment we spend listening to someone’s story instead of jumping to conclusions—this is the mercy God desires from us.
Ezekiel reminds us that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; His heart yearns for their conversion. In practical terms, let us consider how we ourselves can embody this mercy. This Lent, as we reflect on our own lives, let us be honest: Where have we been judgmental? Who have we consciously or unconsciously excluded people from a prayerful consideration?
As we continue this journey toward Easter, we would be wise to allow our Blessed Mother to guide us but we do this by praying for her intercession as we strive to embody her spirit of mercy and resilience in the midst of suffering which leads to final perseverance. May she teach us that each person, each soul and body, is a treasure to God, never to be definitively excluded from His mercy. Most Holy Mother, Queen of Mercy, make our hearts merciful like unto thine. Amen.
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