Images of Mercy

Learning how God’s first and highest attribute is mercy

11/18/2018

Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.  For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Well, folks, I have published my third book of homilies. Now, I know what you are probably thinking: “Oh, Lord, have mercy, not another book of homilies!” If you thought that, you would have guessed the title of the new book, which is, Oh, Lord, Have Mercy. May God have mercy on anyone who tries to read it! I have to thank Cindy McNally, who came up with the title of the book. So, if you don’t like the book, then blame her. The book actually has a co-author, namely, Pope Francis himself. That is, each homily ends with a quotation by Pope Francis that touches the same theme as the homily itself. Additionally, each homily wraps up with a reflection question, to help you, the reader, delve deeper into the same theme and apply it to your own life. Some people say that it can be hard to understand the Pope Francis; heck, for that matter, some people say it can be hard to understand Fr. John! So, hopefully this priest helps you under that pope a little better, or maybe that pope will help you understand this priest a little better.

But the title of the book is apropos for another reason: it cuts to the heart of Pope Francis’ central message, which is mercy. The Holy Father emphasizes mercy so much because he believes it is the highest attribute of God. In a sense, mercy is even higher than love. Why? Well, when you love someone who is completely undeserving of your love, your love has evolved into mercy. That, by the way, is exactly how God loves us, his underserving and rebellious children. And the pope does not just preach mercy with his lips, he practices mercy with his life, especially toward the poor, the needy, and the marginalized, those who need mercy the most. I am convinced the pope’s personal mission is to unveil the Face of the God of mercy.

Let me point out a couple of features on the cover of the book that reinforce this theme of mercy using riveting images. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.  The marble statued figure in middle of the cover is the first pope, St. Peter, as he stands towering over pilgrims who visit St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In the sweltering heat of a Roman summer, tourists hurry to huddle in the shady coolness beneath that statue, and St. Peter provides a little mercy on sweaty pilgrims. But the real source of mercy comes from his keys that Jesus entrusted to Simon Peter and his successors in Matthew 16. The Petrine keys unlock the doors of mercy, both on earth and even in heaven just like Jesus said they would. The pope has the power to unleash God’s mercy like no one else on earth, and therefore, Pope Francis is a worthy 265th successor of St. Peter. That is why St. Peter and his keys are on the cover of the book: they are impressive images of mercy.

If you look closely at the cover of the book, you discover a kind of subtle, soft watermark, a background image, which is none other than the famous painting by the Dutch, Baroque artist, Rembrandt, a painting called “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” It is unquestionably Rembrandt’s crowning achievement, completed in 1667, two years before his death. One of our parishioners graciously let me borrow his depiction to display in church today. The original, however, is 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide and resides in St. Petersburg, Russia.

If you know the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, you can easily guess who the main figures are in the painting. The prodigal, younger son in tattered clothing is kneeling with his head buried in his father’s chest. The father warmly embraces his repentant son with two hands of love and mercy resting tenderly on his back. To the right of the painting stands the self-righteous older brother looking down his nose at his no-good little brother. But perhaps the most captivating artistic detail is the difference in the father’s two hands. One hand is strong and masculine, but the other hand is clearly delicate and feminine, both attributes of God. In the father’s remarkable hands, therefore, Rembrandt has placed both the mercy of a mother and the wisdom of a father, just like Jesus put into Peter’s hand the keys to open the doors of mercy for the world. Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son stands as an image of mercy par excellence.

In case you are wondering why I wrote this book, it is the same reason I wrote my first two books, namely, to support Catholic schools. Oh, Lord, Have Mercy was published with the help of several generous benefactors, and so 100% of the proceeds from book sales goes to Trinity Junior High. The money does not go to the “Fr. John Retirement Fund.”  I am not making any money off this book. So, if you would like to make a donation above the cost of the book, it would be warmly welcome. The book is available in both hardback and paperback, but also as e-books.

In 1983, Fr. Henri Nouwen, a professor at Harvard Divinity School, and a widely respected writer, traveled to St. Petersburg to see the original Rembrandt painting. He was so mesmerized by its enchanting colors and message of mercy it completely changed his life. He sat in the presence of the painting for three hours. Later he wrote a book about his spiritual journey inspired by this painting called, The Return of the Prodigal Son. He saw himself kneeling in the place of the prodigal son and wrote: “I have a new vocation now…I have to kneel before the Father, put my ear against his chest and listen, without interruption, to the heartbeat of God” (The Return, 17). Those lines also accurately summarize the pontificate of Pope Francis: to listen, without interruption, to the heartbeat of God, whose heart always beats to the rhythm of mercy. I hope that my book will help you to hear that heartbeat of mercy, too.

Praised be Jesus Christ!