I’ve been flipping through The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions for Holidays, Feast Days and Every Day that our sister in law, Pia, gave us 10 years ago. We are in the season of Ordinary Time which Meredith Gould explains really has nothing to do with the fact that Christmas festivities are over and the weather is cold, wet and things are just , well, boring. Â Ordinary Time is a time after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Catholic literature suggests this is a time when we can grow and mature our faith. Â So, how do we grow in our faith?
If you’ve listened to the news, read the paper or listened to Catholic Mass, you know that Pope Francis is calling for 2016 to be a year of Mercy. And how do we do that?
I Googled “practical acts of mercy” and there is a ton of info out there!
Let’s  work on this together during the week. Whether it is one act or 21, read about mercy this week and let one act be your daily focus. It may include being merciful to ourselves as suggested by Kathleen Glavich at Catholic Faith Corner~ she introduces more suggestions for us there. Showing unexpected acts of kindness has been something I want to get into the habit of doing, so that is my focus this week.
I will be right there with you.
Let’s meet back here next Sunday to chat about the ways we practiced becoming more merciful. Feel free to post your thoughts on this below. I would like to keep this conversation cozier here on the blog rather than on Facebook!
Happy Sunday!
ML
PS you can buy The Catholic Home on Amazon
Well, today was an easy day to show mercy at the Vet. I was picking up Gizmos food and overheard a gentleman ask “how long will it take? I am not suire I can warch” then ” my mother is in the car holding her. I will bring her in”. We ealked out at the same time and I told him how sorry I was to here about his dog and his loss. He appreciated the moment we took to chat about this dog and how he could not afford to have the cancer removed. Made my ride home with Giz even sweeter .
So, I have read and continue to read Pope Francis’ 2016 Year of Mercy. Wowiser! I have got a lot to learn about myself. I feel I am a person full of mercy. I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, yet, what is truly going on in my heart. The following passage spoke to me.
“When you receive the love of God in abundance I think you will find that you are consumed by an incredible peace. It is from that place of simple peace and joy that you will be able to clearly see those around you through the eyes of the Blessed Mother and love them in precisely the manner that the Holy Spirit beckons you too”.
To see people through the eyes of the Blessed Mother, gives me chills, or Holy Bumps as my dear friend Kathy Stitt says. I need to hold on to this and practice mercy from the heart, not just from the head. I still have lots to learn about myself, in order to better give mercy. Thanks for planting this in my heart. 2016 is going to be an interesting year.
That is why I love and follow Pope Francis. He is bare bones ! And yes, to see others through His mother’s eyes, wowzer is right! Thanks for your words Linda! ML