sussidio november 2015

  God’s mercy is the mark of his omnipotence

From the WORD of GOD

The message of the cross is folly for those who are on the way to ruin, but for those of us who are on the road to salvation it is the power of God. As scripture says: “I am going to destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of any who understand.” Where are the philosophers? Where are the experts? And where are the debaters of this age? Do you not see how God has shown up human wisdom as folly? Since in the wisdom of God the world was unable to recognise God through wisdom, it was God’s own pleasure to save believers through the folly of the gospel. While the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, we are preaching a crucified Christ: to the Jews an obstacle they cannot get over, to the gentiles foolishness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is both the power of God and the wisdom of God. God’s folly is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider, brothers, how you were called; not many of you are wise by human standards, not many influential, not many from noble families. No, God chose those who by human standards are fools to shame the wise; he chose those who by human standards are weak to shame the strong, those who by human standards are common and contemptible — indeed those who count for nothing — to reduce to nothing all those that do count for something, so that no human being might feel boastful before God. It is by him that you exist in Christ Jesus, who for us was made wisdom from God, and saving justice and holiness and redemption. As scripture says: If anyone wants to boast, let him boast of the Lord. (1Cor 1:18-31)
From the DOCUMENTS of the CHURCH
“It is proper to God to exercise mercy, and he manifests his omnipotence particularly in this way”. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ words show that God’s mercy, rather than a sign of weakness, is the mark of his omnipotence. For this reason the liturgy, in one of its most ancient collects, has us pray: “O God, who reveal your power above all in your mercy and forgiveness …” Throughout the history of humanity, God will always be the One who is present, close, provident, holy, and merciful. “Patient and merciful.” These words often go together in the Old Testament to describe God’s nature. His being merciful is concretely demonstrated in his many actions throughout the history of salvation where his goodness prevails over punishment and destruction. In a special way the Psalms bring to the fore the grandeur of his merciful action: “He forgives all your iniquity, he heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the pit, he crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Ps 103:3-4). Another psalm, in an even more explicit way, attests to the concrete signs of his mercy: “He executes justice for the oppressed; he gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin” (Ps 146:7-9). Here are some other expressions of the Psalmist: “He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds… The Lord lifts up the downtrodden, he casts the wicked to the ground” (Ps 147:3, 6). In short, the mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete reality with which he reveals his love as of that of a father or a mother, moved to the very depths out of love for their child. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that this is a “visceral” love. It gushes forth from the depths naturally, full of tenderness and compassion, indulgence and mercy. (Pope Francis, Misericordiae vultus, n. 6)
From the WRITINGS of Blessed A. ROSMINI
We are entirely in the hands of the most secret providence of God, who created and rules the world. We have a choice, therefore. We either find in the providence of our Creator the surety and guarantee of our happiness or we have no hope of finding it. Nothing that we possess — reason, knowledge, power, or anything else — can furnish the surety we seek. But Almighty God himself offers us the solid support of his infallible providence. He assures us that providence works for us provided we trust and believe in it, provided we abandon ourselves to it faithfully. He said to Abraham: Fear not, Abram, I am your protector, and your reward exceeding great (Gen 15: 1). The Scriptures are full of such consolation, especially when Christ is speaking to his disciples. So let us with generous hearts take as our guide God’s most sure providence, and the holy will that indicates and fulfils it. That is why, dear brothers, the Institute of Charity chooses Providence itself and the Will of God as its very own teacher and leader, not naked human reason.
(A Society of Love, Third Homily, pp. 28-29)

LET US PRAY ( Ps 33)
From heaven the Lord looks down
and observes the children of Adam,
from his dwelling place he surveys
all who dwell on earth.
The One who fashioned together their hearts
is the One who knows all their works.
A king is not saved by a great army,
nor a warrior delivered by great strength.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him,
upon those who count on his mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive through famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord,
he is our help and shield.
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
May your mercy, Lord, be upon us;
as we put our hope in you.

PASTORAL YEAR 2015 – 2016
ON-GOING FORMATION
INSTITUTE OF CHARITY
ROSMINIAN SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE

37843_bug.jpg