Tender compassion of our God

The WORD in Other Words by Fr Herman Suico SVD (Philippines)

Saturday Week 15 Ordinary Time, Ex 12:37-42, Mt 12:14-21

Since I started praying the Canticle of Zechariah during morning prayers, I‘ve  often been touched by the beauty of the lines, “In the tender compassion of our God,   the dawn from on High shall break upon us, to shine those who dwell in darkness and   the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78—79). These lines are so full of the sweetness of God‘s mercy and compassion on us, weak sinners.   These give us hope that our broken hearts can find an anchor to cling on to. It gives us   the promise that even with our tattered spirits and broken lives, joy can still be ours because we have a compassionate God, a father who would love us.   

This image was foretold by Isaiah long ago when he prophesied about the   servant of Yahweh who would come, filled with God‘s Spirit. He would come with  great compassion and mercy: “A bruised reed he would not break, a smoldering wick   he would not quench until he would bring God‘s justice to victory.”   

The Lord experienced the worst in us. He experienced firsthand man‘s hatred   and viciousness. He tasted the pain of a vicious slap on his face, the spite behind the   spittle that showered on his person. He knew what it felt when his heart was cut a   thousand times by the insults against him. Yet he still chose to love us.   

In other words, our future is still full of hope not because of us, but because   of Him who loves us.