Meditations on Mercy, June 5th, 2016

Mercy Meditation, June 5th, 2016

“At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing.”

There is nothing that breaks a parent’s heart like the death of a child. In both readings today, the Lord takes compassion on a brokenhearted mother and restores her child to life. God hears the prayers of those who mourn; He counts every tear, and responds by doing what every loving parent would do: gives his own life to save His children. Death is not the victor; the Lord transforms our mourning into dancing.

Jesus will not force us to accept His gift of eternal life, but imagine His heartbreak when we reject Him, choosing death for our souls. This breaks the heart of a loving Father, who mourns for His lost children. Desiring all to be saved, our Church has declared this a Year of Mercy, extending a call especially to the millions of women and men whose hearts are broken and souls darkened by the tragic sin of abortion. Abortion is heartbreak visited on desperate mothers seeking a way out of a difficult situation. At some point, when a woman recognizes the loss of her own child, she experiences profound grief and regret. The Church desires these women to come to the source of all healing, Jesus Christ.

As St. John Paul II wrote in the Gospel of Life, "The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope... The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation." 

Reconciliation with God through the sacrament of repentance is the beginning of healing the wounds of abortion, but often more is needed to address the trauma and grief experienced by post-abortive women. The Catholic Church was the first to recognize this need and extend help through the Bishops’ ministry of Project Rachel. Now, over 40 years later, the Church is still extending God’s mercy through cooperation with ministries like Rachel's Vineyard Retreats, offered in hundreds of locations. In our area (Tri-Cities, Washington), the Healing Light Retreat will be offered June 10-11th. This retreat is a time set aside for all those wounded by abortion to lay down their burdens and the wounds of their past and allow the Divine Physician to heal them. The Lord desires that all those who hide in darkness and the shadow of death let His healing light shine upon them. He longs to fill His beloved children with His peace, and restore them to life.

 

The Healing Light Retreat 

June 10-11th, 2016

 

For confidential information about the Healing Light Retreat,

please call Nancy Murray, (509) 554-9415 or email healinglightretreats@gmail.com