March 14, Saturday Lenten Weekday

The Lord is kind and merciful.--Psalm 103:8

Mass readings: Micah 7:14-15,18-20 / Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Clemency

The process of restorative justice relies on the generosity of the victim toward the offender. The victim and offender are brought together so the latter can face his or her crime and its effects on the former. If the victim cannot forgive, the whole process stalls and nothing is gained.

I was brought up with the vision of God as a bit of a policeman, always waiting for me to transgress so I could be punished. It's taken many years for me to even contemplate the truth that God ''delights rather in clemency.'' He wants to forgive me even more than I want forgiveness. That's a mind-blowing concept for me. God does not, in fact, ''persist in anger forever,'' as the first reading says, but ''will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt.''

Prayer: Lord, thank You for continuing to show me Your infinite mercy.