Psalm Reflection: The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

“The Lord is kind and merciful.” - Psalm 103

Think about your own relationship with God: what adjectives would you use to describe Him? Are kind and merciful on that list? When we come to know and understand God as our father and see ourselves as his beloved children, these qualities become more obvious. A good father is kind and merciful toward his children.

But, have you ever talked to an atheist or a former Christian about God? Do you think these are the same words they would use to describe God? A great question to ask whenever we encounter someone who does not believe in God is: "tell me about this God that you don't believe in." I highly doubt that the answer to that question ever results in the words “kind” or “merciful.” You will probably hear words like “nonexistent,” “cruel,” “angry,” “judgmental," "condemning," and “distant,” among others. 

Tell me about this God that you don't believe in.

The reason I love that question, is because the answers provide a window into the other person’s heart. They can help us see how that person believes they have been hurt, disappointed, misled, or abandoned in the past. 

Tell me about this God that you don't believe in.

If a person answers "judgmental," we can simply ask them “why?” and often, the answer can give us insight into where they need healing, guidance, or clarification. An example they might give could be about how those who believed in God judged them, or how the Christians they encountered were not kind and merciful. Whatever the conversation or answers, we can be the ones who tell them that God is a loving, kind, merciful father who has an incredible plan for their life.

We are made in the image and likeness of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)

This week’s Psalm tells us that God is kind and merciful. (Psalm 103)

Therefore, we are made in the image and likeness of kindness and mercy. If we are not living and expressing our faith in ways that can be described as kind or merciful, then we are not accurately representing God to others.

There are so many people out there who have been hurt by a false image of who they think God is because of misconceptions about Him or because of other Christians who said or did hurtful things to them. Maybe that describes you and if so, I am sorry. Know that God did not want that to happen to you, He loves you, and He wants to be in relationship with you not to hurt or restrict you, but to set you free to live a life of joy, peace and fulfillment.

This week, consider the ways you have not been kind or merciful to others. Who in your life or in your past do you need to ask forgiveness from? Secondly, is there anyone in your life who struggles to see God as kind and merciful because of their past experience, loss, hurt, misconceptions or suffering? Reach out to them simply to be a kind and merciful presence in their life and pray for the opportunity to have an open and honest conversation about faith where you can share the image of God as their loving Father.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt