The Lord hears the cry of the poor. In His mercy, "the Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves" (Ps 34:19). When Jairus was crushed by the news of the death of his twelve-year-old daughter, Jesus raised her from the dead (Mt 9:25) and turned Jairus' greatest sorrow into his greatest joy (see Ps 30:6). When a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years had reached "the end of her rope," she touched the tassel of Jesus' cloak and received God's healing and mercy instantly (see Mt 9:20ff). Jacob was rated second-best by his father (Gn 25:28). Jacob's brother was so angry with him that he planned to kill him (Gn 27:41). So Jacob had to get out of town. While fleeing on the road, the Lord in His mercy gave Jacob a glorious dream promising him great things (Gn 28:12ff). When life seems the worst, the Lord reveals the best. The Lord gives special mercy to the most broken and rejected people.

Let us be merciful as Jesus is merciful (Lk 6:36). May we have mercy on all, especially to those who are going through a time when they are given little or no mercy.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002