Sheri Wohlfert
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Talks & Topics
    • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Women's Ministry
    • Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Hospitality Training
  • Events & Bookings
  • About
  • Contact

Joyful Words Blog

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. 

– Psalm 119:105

Lord Have Mercy

10/6/2014

2 Comments

 
Which one of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim? He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise. “Luke 10:37

The final line of the Good Samaritan Gospel story gives us a simple directive; show mercy.   In its simplest meaning mercy is “kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation.”  There it is; that’s what we are told to do. The question then becomes, how do we do it?  Knowing how thick-headed we can be sometimes God shows us mercy again and again and again.  Our task is to take his example and spread it around to others.  This parable shows us exactly what mercy looks like.

Shannon and I had a very interesting lesson in “mercy” last week.  We flew home for a funeral and the trip routed us through Chicago.  If anyone has seen the news you probably heard about the radar tower disaster that affected O’Hare airport.  Unfortunately, we hadn’t watched the news so we were caught completely by surprise.  The root of the disaster is traced back to one man who in the midst of enormous personal turmoil decided to lock himself in the radar tower that controls one of the busiest airports in the U.S. and inflict great harm upon himself and the tower. The results of his actions involve thousands of cancelled flights and millions of displaced travelers for weeks.  As we sat in Chicago for hours and hours listening and watching the drama unfold over and over I was amazed at the ripple effect that came from one decision. We saw dozens of innocent ticket agents and flight attendants receive the bad end of every negative emotion you can imagine and it all troubled my heart.  I’m not gonna lie, I had a mountain sized hissy-fit bubblin up inside me several times myself but each time I thought a little of it was about to leak out, I’d see someone who was really stuck in a pickle and I’d simmer down. 

When we finally made it home, I realized how important showing mercy really was.  The first thing I thought about after we landed and started to drive home was that man in the radar tower.  When did he need mercy and what would that trip through the airport have been like if more people in his life would have shown it to him? Nowhere does judgment or evaluation play a role in showing mercy.  It’s not for us to decide who is worthy or deserving of mercy, he just told us to show it. I very often remind myself that “I don’t know what I don’t know!”  I don’t know why people wind up in bad or desperate situations and need mercy.  It’s not my business to know, my business according to God is to show mercy and let God deal with the rest.

A Seed To Plant:  As you pray this week ask yourself where you need to show mercy and thank God for coming to you with his great mercy each time you’re in a bad or desperate situation.

Blessings on your day!

 

2 Comments
coffee cindy
10/5/2014 11:54:27 pm

We were flying home from Salt Lake City during that time. We. too. were oblivious to the Chicago Tower news. It was interesting to watch people's reaction to the plane being stuck on the tarmack in Minnesota (to avoid using Chicago airspace). It ranged from nervous frustration, to agitated anger, to just plain rudeness. My favorite reaction was from the elderly lady in the seat across the aisle from me....."Why all the uproar?? Would you rather be delayed and safe or on time and sorry. God's got this." Had to agree. With age, comes wisdom....

Reply
mary ann fedewa
10/6/2014 12:39:59 am

Great commentary Sherry; also want to offer condolences for your loss back home. Love your family.:)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to Joyful Words Blog
    Subscribe

    Sheri's writing can also be found at Faith Catholic Publications and on CatholicMom.com
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

Email     [email protected]

Phone   989.640.6673

Subscribe to Joyful Words Blog

* indicates required
/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Content is the intellectual property of Sheri Wohlfert
Created by Olivia K Design
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Talks & Topics
    • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Women's Ministry
    • Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Hospitality Training
  • Events & Bookings
  • About
  • Contact