Image: “compassion” by kweez mcG via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Curator’s note: A big hello to everyone finding this site via my meditations this week on d365!
This site is all about putting freely reusable media in conversation with faith themes to facilitate prayer and reflection. I’m glad you clicked over, and I hope you’ll subscribe.
Other posts you might like include this specially created Lenten playlist and this prayer of thanksgiving for experiences that shape us.
The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.He will not always accuse us, *
nor will he keep his anger for ever.He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.As far as the east is from the west, *
so far has he removed our sins from us.Psalm 103:8-12 (BCP, Public Domain)
My approach to faith usually doesn’t start with or emphasize sin. I think too many of us grow up with a fearful rather than loving image of God, and an obsession with sin contributes to that.
But this is the season when we face head-on the reality that we often fall short of and willfully work against the high expectations God has for us.
The flip side of that is that God loves us anyway. I don’t know if that’s the point of this little public doodle, but it’s what came to my mind today—deep in the heart of Lent.
Related Scripture
Matthew 9:9-13 (WEB, Public Domain)
9 As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
10 As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 13 But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Related Media
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Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye
The Quality of Mercy at 29K (Sports Night)
Variations on a theme today. Want more about mercy? There’s a sermon for that.