Mercy is Communication

December 16: Thursday of the Third Week of Advent, Year C2

Isaiah 54:1-10; Luke 7:24-30

Alex, an American Catholic living in Sweden with no family, had a stroke. His two best friends took care of him: Michael, a Jewish bus driver, and Said, a Muslim taxi driver.

I said to Said, “Why do you, a Muslim, take such care of a Christian?” He answered, “My religion is communication.” Where people communicate as persons, “kindness and truth shall meet.”

Where truth is, goodness and kindness will be. When we recognize that humanity is the same in all, “justice and peace shall kiss.” All who know the One God—whether Jews, Christians, or Muslims—will reverence his Being, Truth, and Goodness in all his creatures. They will communicate with each other out of a recognition of relatedness. This is the foundation of mercy.

As proof he was the Messiah, Jesus said, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed... the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” Where the Messiah is, there is mercy. Where mercy is, there is the Messiah. In those who share by grace in the divine Being of God, Goodness and Truth shall meet. They will be one in the “communion (mutual communication) of the Holy Spirit.”

Aristotle, a “pagan,” taught that in everything that exists, there is Being, Oneness, Truth, and Goodness.

I heard it from a Muslim.

Daily Practice: Don’t judge. Communicate.

Advent Prayer: Lord, show me your face.