"...the radiance of Your Mercy"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday was the Feast of Christ the Kind, and I was going to write something about our King Jesus and Queen Mother Mary, but somehow never got to do it. This morning, as my husband and I prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together, these words so blessed me, I wanted to share them:

Antiphon 2: Lord, show us the radiance of Your Mercy

Jesus is the radiance of His Father’s Mercy but before He came in the Flesh, the people of Israel had not yet seen Him. The Canticle which follows this antiphon is taken from the Old Testament Book of Sirach 36 and in part, we hear this cry:

…Show mercy to the people called by Your Name; Israel, whom You named Your first-born.

Take pity on Your holy city,
Jerusalem, Your dwelling place.
Fill Zion with Your majesty,
Your temple with Your glory.

How wonderfully God has fulfilled the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (re-named Israel)! The Jews are our elder brothers for salvation came from the Jews, the Israel of old. Mary and Joseph were both descendants of King David, hence had to journey to Bethlehem, David’s city in the time of the Roman census. Mary gave birth to the New King of Israel foretold by the prophets. The Mercy of the Father first shone on the Face of His Son Jesus, and the Son of Mary shines especially on her face. Through Mary, the radiance of His Mercy shine on us.

Jesus and Mary are truly King and Queen of heaven and earth, and hopefully each of us is finding in our hearts that they reign with the radiance of the Father’s Mercy within.

 

[liturgy96]

Thanks for this reflection! We really need the Lord’s mercy these days…

Also, as I once wrote in my prayer journal:

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give You thanks, O Lord! ** Merciful God, Giver of every blessing and Author of Goodness, Your providence has sustained us throughout our days**…” (The rest of the prayer, based upon a Mass Preface, is private)

Merciful Lord, hear our prayers, especially us college students about to finish the semester! Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks for this reflection! We really need the Lord’s mercy these days…

Also, as I once wrote in my prayer journal:

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give You thanks, O Lord! ** Merciful God, Giver of every blessing and Author of Goodness, Your providence has sustained us throughout our days**…” (The rest of the prayer, based upon a Mass Preface, is private)

Merciful Lord, hear our prayers, especially us college students about to finish the semester! Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us!

Thanks again, for your thoughts and replies. May the Lord grant us all that radiance of His Mercy which comes to us through Mary/