Mercy is Harmony

December 9: Thursday of the Second Week of Advent, Year C2

Isaiah 41:13-31; Matthew 11:11-15

Everyone knows the story of the young boy carrying his injured little brother piggyback. When asked, “Isn’t he heavy?” he replied, “He isn’t heavy; he’s my brother!”

We keep retelling the story because it is true. Love gives strength. And awareness activates love. When we carry our brother or sister, it’s never a dead weight.

Nor is it a weight we ever carry alone. God keeps his own command: “Do for others what you would like them to do for you” (Matthew 7:12). If God let a human, Simon of Cyrene, help Jesus carry his cross, we can believe Jesus will never let any human carry a cross alone.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened... Take my yoke upon you...” A yoke links two together. When things are hard, remember Jesus is working with you, in you, and through you. When we are having mercy on others, Jesus is having mercy on us. No one having mercy sings solo; the sound of mercy is humans singing harmony with God.

When Jesus prayed that we might “all be one” as the Father, Son, and Spirit are one (see John 17:21), did he have the “harmony of mercy” in mind?

Daily Practice: When your load is heavy, shift some weight to Jesus.

Advent Prayer: Jesus, you and me, and mostly you!