GOD’S MERCY OVERCOMES THE ELASTICITY OF HIS ANGER

⏰Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (07 August 2018)

📖Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23 (R.v.17); Matt 14:22-36

In Physics, we learnt that every spring has an elastic limit, that is, the point where it would exceed and not expected to return to its original length. Can we say that God’s anger can operate in that manner? It would seem so, given the kind of message God sent Jeremiah to go and deliver to the people, “Your hurt is incurable… Your hurt is incurable. Because your guilt is great…” (Jer 30:12-15).

One of the reasons that led God to such anger is the misleading of the people by the prophets and priests. Today, Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, which misleads people into believing that they are good, but God is more concerned about what goes on inside of us (cf. Matt 15:10-11; see also Matt 15:7-8).

Hypocrisy can lead God’s anger beyond the elastic limit. And Jesus declares, “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted would be uprooted” (Matt 15:13).

But our joy is that God’s anger does not strictly follow the laws of elasticity. This is because God’s mercy is greater than his anger. That is why, even after declaring that the hurt of the people is incurable, he goes ahead to declare, “I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob” (Jer 30:18). The blood of Jesus makes that possible as it pleads incessantly on our behalf.

Do you want to be a beneficiary of that great mercy of God? Shun hypocrisy and declare yourself for God. He is sure to declare himself for you (cf. Jer 30:22).

Have a stress-free day spent under God’s mercy. Peace be with you.