Receive My Mercy

This past Sunday, at Mass, was the gospel of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:1-32) A beautiful story of Jesus's Mercy, of His Love, of His Compassion. Whether we reflect on the message as the son returning to his Father, as the Father enveloping his son in mercy, or as the brother being angry and jealous... Jesus is just wanting us to know how very, very much He loves us. And how is is always with us, always. And asking us to please, let Him Love us!  Our priest at my church, Fr. Jeremy Hans, has some of the best homilies. So simple, yet so full of meaning. I asked him for a copy of this homily he gave, as I just thought it was so beautiful, as if Jesus was personally talking to each one of us. Hope it speaks to your heart also.

"My child, receive my mercy.
As the father longed to embrace his prodigal son, so I long to give you my mercy.  But you must receive it.
I have called you to be an instrument of my mercy, to be merciful to others, but to be that instrument of My mercy, you must first receive it.
To receive My mercy, My child, you must first know that you need it.  I know that you can see that you are not perfect, are not whole, that you have wounds, that you long for something better, for something more than you can give yourself, though you’ve tried.  Like the prodigal son, you can see that seeking things in that distant country, that land away from Me, has left you lonely, empty, tired.
To receive My mercy, My child, you must then desire My mercy.  Ask, and you shall receive. Turn to Me, take that one little step towards home, and I will come running to you.
My children, I see all the unforgiveness that goes on,  in your families, in your communities, in your lives.  I see how this holds you back, weighs you down, how it only allows you to be a fraction of who you could be.   But when you receive My mercy, then you will become a font of My mercy.  Then, you will be able to forgive.  Then you will be whole, you will be strong.  Then I will heal all your wounds.  I will heal your communities.  I will heal your country.
Open your heart to My mercy.  So many resist My mercy.  So many make excuses to not fully receive My mercy.
The prodigal son had a speech all prepared for his father.  the father wasn’t so interested in his speech as he was in the fact that his son came back to him.  My child, do not dismiss My mercy.  Do not talk yourself out of it.  Do not say it is not for you, not your thing.  Do not say you don’t really need it.  Do not say you are not good enough.  Do not say you are not worthy to receive My mercy.  Be quiet, be still.  No excuses. No rationalizing.  Just let Me pour My mercy into your heart and your soul.
My child, I am pleased that you have come here today in some way in anticipation of My mercy.  Let me love you, let me pour out my mercy upon you.  Let me clothe you in robe, ring and sandals.  Let My blood and water which flows from the depths of My heart engulf you.  Let the torrent of My mercy which flows from this altar wash you away in its warm flood.  Do not resist. Take it in, drink it in, and know My healing, know My peace, know the depths of My love for you.
My child, receive My mercy."