Daily Thought For February 1, 2018

The Gentleness & Mercy of Christ 

   A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench. 

     Jesus' mercy for people never faltered for a moment, despite all the ingratitude, difficulties and hatred he encountered. His love for men is so great because He is concerned above all for their souls, and to bring them with his powerful help to eternal life; at the same time, it knows no bounds and extends to all mankind. He is the Good Shepherd of our souls, who knows us all and calls each one of us by our name' and leaves none abandoned on the mountainside. He has given his life for each man and woman. When a soul strays, Christ's immediate reaction is to do all He can to help it return, and we can visualize him watching daily to catch a glimpse of it in the distance. Whenever someone offends him grievously, He tries to draw him to his merciful Heart. He doesn't break the bruised reed, he doesn't finally snap it off and throw it away. Instead, he mends it very carefully, giving it all the attention it needs. 

     What does He say to those who are devastated by sin, or who no longer give any light because the divine fire in their soul has gone out? Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest? He has pity on the great misfortune they have suffered on account of sin, and leads them to repentance without judging them harshly. He is the father who embraces his prodigal son after he has fallen into disgrace through his own fault. He it is who pardons the adulterous woman who is being threatened with stoning. He receives the repentant Magdalen and immediately opens to her the mystery of his intimate life. He speaks about eternal life to the Samaritan woman in spite of her waywardness; He promises heaven to the good thief Truly in him are fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah: 'A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly-burning wick he will not quench.

     No one ever loved us, or will love us, as Christ does; no one understands us better than He. When the faithful of Corinth went about, divided, saying to one another: 'I belong to Paul, I belong to Apollos, I belong to Cephas, I belong to Christ,' Saint Paul writes to them: Was Paul crucified for you. That is the ultimate argument. 

     We can never lose hope. God wants us to be saints, and puts his power and his providence at the service of his mercy. Therefore, we cannot pass the time dwelling on our evil fortune, losing sight of God, getting discouraged by our failures, feeling tempted to say: 'What's the use of trying, considering how much I have sinned, how much I have failed my Lord?' No, we must trust in the love and power of Our Father God, and in his Son, sent into the world to redeem and strengthen us.

      It is very good for our soul to see ourselves, in Our Lord's sight, like a bruised reed which needs a lot of care, like a flickering wick which needs the oil of divine love in order to burn as God wants! We never lose hope as long as we realize that we are weak, full of defects and dirt. Our Lord never leaves us; we just need to use the means and not reject the hand that He offers us. 

from In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez Volume 4 pp.169-170