For His mercy endures forever

I remember hearing once upon a time that these are the closing words for the Sacrament of Penance. Most priests, apparently, skip that part (among others, but I won't go there). The priest is supposed to say after the final Sign of the Cross, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good." The penitent then responds, "For His mercy endures forever."

To me, this is a tiny symptom of our big problem with trust and peace. We cannot rest in God's gentle, loving arms anymore. The world moves too fast. Everything is too loud. There is not enough silence for us to hear His mercy. We do not stop to recognize it, but it is real.

When I taught a sixth grade CCD class after having our first child, we used the wonderful Image of God series from Ignatius Press. That year's theme is "God's Merciful Love," and we focused on Old Testament stories that demonstrate God's mercy. I think there were three girls in the class out of a dozen or so students! So, I was constantly praying for His mercy to be upon me while teaching those boys, and the simple understanding that indeed "His mercy endures forever" has stuck with me ever since and carried me through several tough times.

Yesterday, during our lessons from The Story of the World, we discussed Exodus from a historical perspective, and I was again reminded of God's endless mercy. His care for the Israelites was amazing. My daughter is fascinated by the ten plagues, and I am, too. The God who so obviously demonstrated His loving care for His chosen people thousands of years ago is the same God who stands by me and you today.

Given that, how can we despair about our culture or our country or our children or our Church? How can we not trust in His steadfast love, which will never ever fail us? As I prepare for our Little Flowers meeting today on Wisdom, I am reminded again that the best place to gain wisdom about God's mercy is, of course, in Scripture. Need some reassurance? God's own Word can be pretty convincing!

Psalms 136

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who smote the first-born of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

Ut overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

to him who smote great kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and slew famous kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.