Psalm Reflection: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

“The Lord loves justice and right. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.” - Psalm 33:5

When I read the words, “the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord,” my first thought is, “no it isn’t!” We hear constantly on the news about senseless tragedies, genocides, wars, natural disasters and countless difficulties in our world. It is easy to look around at all of that and say “where is God?” In those moments, He is on the cross. He is completely in the brokenness and the pain with us. When God calls us to have “compassion” for others, that word literally means, “to suffer with,” exactly as Jesus does for us. I remember once in an interview, Mother Teresa was asked, “why does God allow so many of His children to suffer and go hungry?” She simply replied, “He doesn’t. We do.” The mercy of the Lord fills the earth because it lives in each one of us, we need to make the daily choice to act upon it. Did you know that every day in the United States we waste three times the food necessary to feed the hungry of the world for that day (www.stopthehunger.com)? We live in a wasteful culture; we waste our food, our resources, our money and our time. This week, waste less. Do one small act of service each day without the expectation of a “thank you” or any recognition. It could be picking up trash that isn’t yours, holding a door open, letting someone in a hurry go in front of you when driving or in line at the supermarket, saying “hello” to someone who gets passed by everyone else, putting a shopping cart back, paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru, or offering to help someone stuck on the side of the road. Every day is an opportunity to serve in some small way; that is how the earth will be filled with the mercy of the Lord. It is up to you and me. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? We are praying for you this week! 

See you in the Eucharist.