GiveCentral Blog

Menu

Written by • August 11, 2024• 7:27 am• Pastoral Notes

The Power of Mercy: Overcoming Anger and Embracing Forgiveness

Anger, in its proper use, is meant to protect us or someone who is dear to us. But so often anger builds a home in the heart and begins to poison it by turning into rumination, the desire for vengeance, and making one a bitter person. Prophets and sages of old learned to let vengeance belong to God, and not to us, because “the Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and full of compassion.” Anger, which was intended to enforce justice, instead becomes a source of injustice, self-righteousness, and embitterment. The antidote to anger gone afoul is mercy. Mercy is a loving gift, not something that can be earned or bought. This is illustrated so clearly in today’s gospel proclamation. The master has mercy on his servant, but the same servant compounds his own injustice by having no mercy for another servant. All of us wish to receive mercy, but we must ask ourselves honestly if we are willing to give it. If we have trouble giving mercy to another person, let us ask the Lord to help us become merciful by the grace of His own mercy and example in forgiving us! Call to action: The Sacrament of Reconciliation through the Rite of Penance is intended to celebrate a change of heart that has already begun. First, we recognize the need for forgiveness within our hearts, then we ask for God’s mercy with sincere intentions. Let us invite our people to the seat of mercy by encouraging them to come for confession and reconciliation. Let them know that confession is a moment of celebrating mercy and for allowing a change of heart to take place. Question: are your parish’s times for reconciliation truly convenient for your people? Can you adjust the time, or add additional times for reconciliation? Pastoral Action Points A parish is a local family of faith. We rejoice in each one’s victories and grieve each other’s sorrows. Use your GC Smart Tools so that parishioners can send in their prayer requests. If you want to know how, just contact Teresa Meyer at teresa@givecentral.org GC’s 20 for 20 campaign is in kick-off mode! If you want to know more about it look here: https://www.givecentral.org/20-for-20-campaign Have you formed your welcoming ministry yet? It is critical to your parish’s growth. It’s not too late to start one now! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org
Anger, in its proper use, is meant to protect us or someone who is dear to us. But so often anger builds a home in the heart and begins to poison it by turning into rumination, the desire for vengeance, and making one a bitter person. Prophets and sages of old learned to let vengeance belong to God, and not to us, because “the Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and full of compassion.” Anger, which was intended to enforce justice, instead becomes a source of injustice, self-righteousness, and embitterment. The antidote to anger gone afoul is mercy. Mercy is a loving gift, not something that can be earned or bought. This is illustrated so clearly in today’s gospel proclamation. The master has mercy on his servant, but the same servant compounds his own injustice by having no mercy for another servant. All of us wish to receive mercy, but we must ask ourselves honestly if we are willing to give it. If we have trouble giving mercy to another person, let us ask the Lord to help us become merciful by the grace of His own mercy and example in forgiving us!Call to action: The Sacrament of Reconciliation through the Rite of Penance is intended to celebrate a change of heart that has already begun. First, we recognize the need for forgiveness within our hearts, then we ask for God’s mercy with sincere intentions. Let us invite our people to the seat of mercy by encouraging them to come for confession and reconciliation. Let them know that confession is a moment of celebrating mercy and for allowing a change of heart to take place. Question: are your parish’s times for reconciliation truly convenient for your people? Can you adjust the time, or add additional times for reconciliation?Pastoral Action Points A parish is a local family of faith. We rejoice in each one’s victories and grieve each other’s sorrows. Use your GC Smart Tools so that parishioners can send in their prayer requests. If you want to know how, just contact Teresa Meyer at teresa@givecentral.orgGC’s 20 for 20 campaign is in kick-off mode! If you want to know more about it look here: https://www.givecentral.org/20-for-20-campaignHave you formed your welcoming ministry yet? It is critical to your parish’s growth. It’s not too late to start one now! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Anger, in its proper use, is meant to protect us or someone who is dear to us. But so often anger builds a home in the heart and begins to poison it by turning into rumination, the desire for vengeance, and making one a bitter person. Prophets and sages of old learned to let vengeance belong to God, and not to us, because “the Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and full of compassion.”

Anger, which was intended to enforce justice, instead becomes a source of injustice, self-righteousness, and embitterment. The antidote to anger gone afoul is mercy. Mercy is a loving gift, not something that can be earned or bought. This is illustrated so clearly in today’s gospel proclamation.

The master has mercy on his servant, but the same servant compounds his own injustice by having no mercy for another servant. All of us wish to receive mercy, but we must ask ourselves honestly if we are willing to give it.

If we have trouble giving mercy to another person, let us ask the Lord to help us become merciful by the grace of His own mercy and example in forgiving us!

The Sacrament of Reconciliation through the Rite of Penance is intended to celebrate a change of heart that has already begun. First, we recognize the need for forgiveness within our hearts, and then we ask for God’s mercy with sincere intentions.

Let us invite our people to the seat of mercy by encouraging them to come for confession and reconciliation. Let them know that confession is a moment of celebrating mercy and allowing a change of heart to take place.

Question: are your parish’s times for reconciliation truly convenient for your people? Can you adjust the time, or add additional times for reconciliation?

Pastoral Action Points

  1. A parish is a local family of faith. We rejoice in each one’s victories and grieve each other’s sorrows. Use your GC Smart Tools so that parishioners can send in their prayer requests. If you want to know how, just contact Teresa Meyer at teresa@givecentral.org
  2. GC’s 20 for 20 campaign is in kick-off mode! If you want to know more about it look here: https://www.givecentral.org/20-for-20-campaign
  3. Have you formed your welcoming ministry yet? It is critical to your parish’s growth. It’s not too late to start one now!
 
Stay up-to-date with news & information – follow us on social!
Toll-free:  833.716.2612   |   Email us at: support@givecentral.org
Visited 8 times, 1 visit(s) today

Last modified: November 8, 2024

← The Church has a prophetic mission to tell the truth to the world. This mission is not an easy one because it means pointing out the faults and errors of both individuals and social systems. In the ancient world of Israel, prophets were often scorned by the community because they said things people didn’t want to hear. Today when the Church points out violations of human rights, or violations of individual conscience, she can receive scornful rejection. Yet, the point of the prophetic role is not to condemn others, but to call for a change of heart – a conversion or renewal of the heart and soul! Ultimately it is a call to love! Thus, as St. Paul tells us in today’s Second Reading, “the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” St. Peter also tells us that “love covers a multitude of sins.” The Church’s goal in her prophetic mission is not to condemn, but to move individuals and the world to the love of God and neighbor. Call to action: Many people have stayed away from Church because they fear condemnation or rejection. They may be in an irregular marriage, or have been through a painful divorce, or are dealing with some other personal issue. Take this Sunday as an opportunity to invite people to meet with you pastorally. Very often there are both formal and informal pastoral solutions they don’t know about. There is a place for everyone in the Church whose heart is open to the love of God – even if conversion comes about slowly. Think about offering a parish workshop on annulments and marriage reconciliation. Use your GC Smart Tools to announce it by text, email, or direct mail. This weekend is also Grandparents’ Day weekend for those who deferred it from the feast of Sts. Ann and Joachim. Recognize and bless the grandparents who are present. Use your GC Smart Tools to send a quick email or text to remind your parishioners of this celebration. GC has templates for Grandparents’ Day you can find them under the communications portal. Pastoral Action Points Be sure to refresh your pew cards and have your QR codes available for your parishioners and visitors. Parishioners can update their information very quickly (in seconds, literally) using our GC Smart Tools. If you need assistance getting your pew cards ready please email teresa@givecentral.org Fall is the best time to invite parishioners to greater engagement with the parish community. Invite your seniors to be “telephone evangelists” by asking them to make a quick call to other parishioners. You can use your GC Smart Tools to make smaller phone lists that can be delegated to your senior volunteers. Provide a short phone script for them saying they are calling on behalf of the parish to thank them for being part of the community, and to see if they have a need with which the parish can help. Later, have a thank you party for your volunteers. Many of us in pastoral ministry are not “techies.” We don’t use many of the tools available to us because we don’t know how to use them. Join GiveCentral’s Bridget Daly for a great webinar on this topic on September 14 at 1PM Central Time. Claim your seat here! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org Previous Story
Speaking Truth in Love: The Church’s Role in Guiding Hearts
→ Recall that the Church already existed when the gospels, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were written down. Thus, the parable of the workers in the vineyard gains an even fuller meaning, for new members were joining the Church constantly, and older members may have assumed that they were more privileged than newer ones. In truth, there has always been tension in the Church between older members and newer members. Even in today’s parishes sometimes older members, though happy to see more people, are not always happy to share space or influence with the newer ones. Just as the New Testament Church had to examine itself about its spirit of welcome toward its new members, so must we today. Being with the Lord is a privilege, but it does not make us more privileged because we have been with Him longer. Our souls, hearts and our arms must be open to those who are new to Christ and His Church. Call to action: Part of developing the spirit of welcome in a parish community is by asking the long-standing organizations and ministries to encourage new members, to receive their ideas, and make them feel valued. This can be hard, because it requires groups to move beyond old thinking and the spirit of “we’ve always done it this way.” It requires a deep examination of conscience and an openness to the “new means and methods” called for by the New Evangelization. Unless we take the risk of deepening our spirit of welcome, there will be no new laborers for the vineyard. Pastoral Action Points Fall is a wonderful time to invite parishioners to join the various ministries, services, and organizations in your parish. Some parishes have ministry fairs or parish town hall meetings where the organizations and ministries can be highlighted. Use your GC Smart Tools to communicate an awareness of your groups and ministries by creating emails or direct mailings about them. Is your parish engaged in GC’s 20 for 20 campaign? If it is, stay in touch with Give Central throughout the campaign and look for our weekly webinars offering support and instruction. Have you started thinking about Advent? It’s a great time to encourage your parishioners to invite others to join them at mass. Take some time to plan a special welcoming experience for those “sometime” Catholics to get them re-engaged. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org Next Story
Developing Mercy and Welcoming in Church Communities

Comments are closed.

Discover more from GiveCentral Blog

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading