Today I am going to depart from my usual homiletic style of using imagery and analogies already found in the scripture readings – and I am going to introduce an analogy that might be a bit more easily understood and identifiable by us in our day in age. I am doing this because the theme of today's liturgy is vitally important. The application of the mercy of God!
Ten days ago we celebrated the single most dramatic event in salvation history: the brutal death of Jesus Christ – Son of God, Son of Man – by crucifixion. God the Father so loved us that he allowed his only-begotten Son to be killed for our redemption – so that friendship could be restored between himself and fallen humankind.
And so it happened! Jesus died a horrible human death; and death was destroyed forever. He took the sin of the world into himself – he became sin - as he died, and sin was eradicated forever! Then, three days later – last Sunday – he verified and validated his entire life, message and act of redemption, by rising from the dead! It is true! Christ rose from the dead! It is true! We now have at our disposal the graces of redemption! It is true! We now can become adopted sons and daughters of God!
Those are the facts of what happened! Now the question is: what does that have to do with human beings since that day; what does that have to do with you and me?
It means that "the money is now in the bank!" The "graces we need to live as children of God are stored for us in heaven" – as St. Peter tells us in the second reading today. So, how do we get the graces out? Here comes my practical analogy: we use the "spiritual ATM debit card" that God freely issues to each one of us! That's all there is to it?
There is an enormous amount of mercy available to us through the death and resurrection of Christ. Not only can Original Sin be removed from us, but so can personal sin! Now, is always the time to ask for God's mercy – until we breathe our last breath!
There are a few requirements, however, to be able to use the "spiritual ATM card." The first is that we must freely, voluntarily and humbly admit that we are in need of God's mercy and forgiveness. We must freely admit that we are sinners – otherwise we are telling the Father of Jesus that his Son died for nothing! And then, once we come to realize our own sinfulness and how off-center our lives are: then we must use the spiritual ATM card confidently and joyfully!
This means that we have to do something! We have to get up off the couch and go to the spiritual bank where the spiritual ATM machine is so we can insert the spiritual ATM card into the slot! We have to go to the Church! What we insert into the machine, what we enter on our own part is FAITH! We believe that there is a reserve of mercy provided by Jesus, (because he said that it would really be there for us) and we in true humility ask for a share in it! And then, because we asked in faith, it will be given: God the Father is so very eager to give mercy, forgiveness and all good things to those who ask for them.
This means that we ask to be connected to the source of mercy for life: not only for this life – but into the next one as well. We ask to become members of the Church – the great dispenser of God's mercy – and we are welcomed. We receive also "bonus gifts" of a spiritual nature: the Gift and gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us live good, upright and holy lives as members of the Church. And we can use our spiritual ATM card any day of the week, but especially on Sundays (as we gather with other card-holders) to reconnect and receive spiritual guidance, strength, food and nourishment by means of the Holy Scripture and Holy Eucharist at Mass.
There are other times when we can use our spiritual ATM cards as well: the sacrament of Penance for when we sin after baptism, and need to ask directly for God's mercy and forgiveness to restore us to our original baptismal state.
When we are seriously ill we can use our spiritual ATM card: to be comforted, refreshed and even healed of what is afflicting us!
All it takes is "inserting the card" by "faith" then selecting the menu option that corresponds to our particular need!
Is this a far-fetched analogy – maybe – maybe not! The bottom line is that GOD'S LOVE, MERCY, FORGIVENSS, DIRECTION, GUIDANCE, STRENGTH, GRACE and PEACE are always in store, and always available to us – FOR THE ASKING – because of what Jesus did for us! And so we must learn to confidently trust in God above all things, above all people – ask for his help and then wait for him to bestow his magnificent graces and blessings upon us! He will never fail us! He loves us so!
The next time you use your ATM debit card be reminded of God's great and wonderful mercy that is available to you and everyone else – for the faith, for the asking!
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