2010/04/15

Grace and Mercy

Imagine yourself with Jesus at Gethsemane on the night He was about to be arrested. The apostles were sleeping soundly and it was only you and Him awake. He is in a somber mood as He prepares to pray before His impending arrest, humiliation and unimaginable persecution. He looks at you lovingly and ask you this question, “Who do you think should I exclude in my mission of salvation?”

Immediately, a collective number of people ran into your mind.

Your drunkard good-for-nothing father.

Your overly critical mother who talks normally in decibels similar to jet engines.

Your wayward brother who spends his whole life doing nothing with his barkada.

Your philandering husband.

Your nagging wife.

Your drug-addict and ungrateful child.

Your evil-scheming in-laws.

Your two-timing boyfriend.

Your too demanding girlfriend.

Your unbelievably rude next door neighbor.

Your irritating boss.

Your more irritating colleagues.

Your annoying business-partner.

That undoubtedly corrupt politician.

That hard-hearted murderer.

That despicable abortionist.

That fake and pretentious preacher.

That filthy and smug rich person.

You are still discerning who to choose and have not spoken out your thoughts yet when the Lord reaches out for your hand. Once again, with love in His eyes He speaks, “Do you believe that I can embrace all their sins and offer them my salvation as well?”

“You would?”, you asks hesitantly, “But why?”

“Because I love them all despite of and in spite of,” He says,”..and as long as they repent and sin no more, then I will welcome them in Paradise.”

Something is bothering you at that moment. You wanted to keep it to yourself but you just have to know.

“So what about us who are being wronged by these people? It seems unfair that they get away with their misdeeds and still go to heaven, isn’t it?”

The Lord smiles, “Well, for those people who experience injustices and persecutions, I am offering them more.”

He continued, “I want them to experience my Peace, the kind of peace not the world can offer.”

“And when you have this peace, you will already experience heaven while you are still on earth”, He assures.

“Please give me this peace, Lord so I can experience heaven on earth”, you pleaded.

“Yes, but with one condition”, Jesus pauses.

“You must visit me tomorrow while I hang on the cross, and let all your anger, vengeance and hatred be nailed into the cross with me. For good measure, offer your prejudices and indifferences as well”, as He gently re-assures you, “Your attitide and outlook towards these sinners will dramatically change. You will see them not as oppressors but as directionless souls that needs guidance and mercy. You will see them not as harmful persons but hurting beings as well. You will now see them as God’s children”.

“ And then, my peace shall reign upon you, because my love will finally flow through you”.

As Jesus kneels to pray, you start to walk away pondering about His invitation on Calvary tomorrow.

Will you come?


Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve.

May the Lord’s peace be with us always.


- March 30, 2010

2 comments:

Julianne said...

parang yung sinabi nung pari last week of 2 weeks ago in his homily: It's so easy to tell God, I love you but when we talk about self-sacrificing love let's admit it hindi sya madali. buti na lang God is a loving God. God knows how to give agape love. He still loves us no matter who we are or where we come from.

P.S. it's nice to see you again kuya rowin and of course si ate menchie and zek. btw, i forgot to tell you last Sunday "I like your skin. Kutis mayaman. hehe!" natuwa naman ako dahil naupdate na tong blog mo after 48 years. :D enjoy your vacation. Regards to the whole family. :)

Rej
www.rejspeaks.blogspot.com

Aim Santos said...

Hi Rej,

Wait til you see me again after a few weeks more with my kutis "brown man" totally back :D. But, you are right when you said "kutis-mayaman" kasi lahat naman tayo ay mayaman sa pagmamahal ni Lord kaya the kutis must follow :).

Yes, my blog will now be regularly updated every year. Thanks to our good IT friends in China :D.

Thanks Rej for you time last Sunday with our Kfam friends. Our bonding time was a blast :)