Feast of Saint John Joseph of the Cross

Good morning. How often we fail to let go of past hurts, past failings. It is in the sacramental living out of married life we are called to love knowing we’ll be asked to forgive again, and again--to forgive endlessly. Truth is, only God is capable of such, yet it is this endless mercy which we are called to strive toward and the more we become this way we become less likely to become occupied with the shortcomings of others. In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us of the need to “be merciful just as your Father is merciful” and that “the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” We are reminded of the words of the Prophet Jeremiah: “With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you.” These words of God to Israel reflect well the marital covenant. As with God, marriage calls us to love and to be merciful, to love unconditionally, to be merciful time and again, and accept our spouse for who they are. Marriage calls us to be merciful as God is merciful, to love as God loves with an everlasting love. When it comes to forgiveness and mercy, His goodness to us is without measure. We are likewise called to offer such goodness. Goodness makes goodness, ‘so be good for goodness sake.’ Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint John Joseph of the Cross