God's shocking mercy (Sunday homily)

 The readings are all about God’s mercy. Let me make three points.

First: God’s mercy is so generous as to be shocking.

Second: God’s mercy requires a response.

Third: That response is both hard – and easy.

Scripture scholar Brant Pitre points out something 

about the parables of Jesus that we may not realize: 

hey often contain a twist or a surprise.

In the first parable, Jesus says, 

“what man…would not leave the ninety-nine…

and go after the lost one until he finds it?” 

And the answer is, no one would do that! 

If you leave 99 sheep unguarded, you will lose a lot more.

In the second parable: who would throw a party 

to celebrate finding a $10 bill? Has anyone here ever done that?

Now we come to the third parable. The son’s sinfulness is extreme. 

He wants his father dead; and he coldly abandons his family.

But the twist is in the response of the Father. 

His response is even more extreme.

He searches the horizon for his son and he runs to him.

He restores him without any conditions.

When God gives, he always gives super-abundantly. 

Manna in the desert. Wine at Cana. Dying on the Cross. 

And so it is here.

So listen: if you ever doubt God’s mercy, 

Or fear you weren’t forgiven: STOP IT!

We all have these feelings; 

but be clear on this: if we ask for God’s mercy, he will give it. 

One drop of Jesus’ blood can wash away all sin, 

and when you receive absolution in confession, 

you are bathed in God’s mercy. 

It’s not because we deserve it, or work for it, 

or are in any way worthy of it. 

The psalm we prayed was written by King David, 

after he committed rape, adultery, murder,

betrayal of a loyal servant, and lies to cover it all up. 

And God forgave him.

God’s mercy is so generous that it’s shocking.

Now, second: God’s mercy requires a response. 

This is where God’s mercy is misrepresented.

The usual idea is that Jesus is a kind of flower-child,

criss-crossing the landscape, passing out hugs 

and he doesn’t ask anything in return.

The truth is, our Lord could be a kill-joy: 

Talking about hell and the need for radical conversion.

We heard it last week: take up your cross. Die to ego, die to money, 

die to family attachment, die to sex, die to ambition, die to self. 

The younger son had to die to his pride and dreams and come home. 

Or else, he’d have died in his sins.

So we must respond to God’s mercy.

And that means seeking mercy for others;

and, of course, for ourselves. 

Those go together: the more we know our own need for mercy, 

the easier it is to seek mercy and give mercy to others.

The older son presents himself as without sin;

No wonder he had no leniency for his brother.

Finally, the response that mercy demands is both hard and easy. 

The sins in our lives: what keeps us from leaving them behind?

If we’re visiting the dark places on the Internet, 

or inflicting anger on others around us, 

or making a god of money or food, why don’t we give these things up? 

Because it can be hard. Sometimes it seems impossible.

Or sometimes, we just don’t really want it enough.

The son didn’t come home until he became desperate. 

Nevertheless, he HAD to respond, in order to receive it.

And yet, the response is the easiest thing in the world. 

Go to the Father! Go to confession! 

Don’t worry if you forgot how; the priest knows, and we’re not nervous. 

I admit we may talk too long, 

but in the end, if the penitent turns from sin,

the priest has to give absolution, that is, mercy!

God is shockingly ready to forgive. He waits for your response.