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Pastor's Column

The Throne of Grace and Mercy

Pastor’s Column

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 20, 2024


An image of a golden throne surrounded by angels. (Created by Copilot AI)


Since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession of faith. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace for timely help.

Hebrews 4:14 – 16 (2nd reading this Sunday)


 

Since many of us have lost loved ones and friends, at such times our thoughts naturally turn to the mystery of life after death. What lies beyond the veil of death? We can rely on Jesus who passed through death and returned to tell us what matters to God and why he created us. One day he will give us the answers to all our questions, even though at present we see with the eyes of faith, through the eyes of Jesus.


It was Jesus and Jesus alone who fully passed from heaven to earth when he was born and back to heaven after he died. And he promised to be with us always in other forms, especially in the Eucharist and in the Scriptures. What then can we learn from this beautiful passage in Hebrews 4?


Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses. Jesus was both fully God and fully human. When we pray to him, he also fully understands our struggles and trials, our weaknesses and sins, because he has been there. He knows that we cannot see God, and yet we were designed to live and dwell with him. Jesus’ answer to our weaknesses and trials is the cross. He does not always take away our own sufferings, but offers us his own that we might unite our own “weaknesses” with his own as an act of love on the cross, thus sanctifying them. The supreme symbols of the weakness Jesus took on for love of you and me may be seen when we look at a crucifix or receive the Eucharist. Jesus then uses the weakness inherent in human life as a way to unite us with his love.


Jesus sits on a throne of grace and mercy. Jesus is not waiting to throw a book at you on the last day. Some people condemn themselves to hell, but only if they do not want and have chosen to reject the mercy of God. The Mass in particular is a fountain of grace, forgiveness and strength for the journey. How could Almighty God reveal himself in a weaker form than bread and wine? He has done this for you alone. And he has promised to forgive every sin we commit, so long as we ask, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.


Jesus gives us timely help. Sometimes, it does seem as if God’s timing is off, but he really does know what he is doing, and while many things make no sense here, when we are in eternity, even a lifetime of suffering will seem to have passed in but a moment. Many of us are anxious to have a nice long face-to-face talk with Jesus, because we have many questions about why things happen the way they do, but until then, we can rely on the fact that everything Jesus permits in our lives is ultimately intended to assist us in our journey to heaven, and to help others along the way, even if it doesn’t always appear that way.  

Father Gary

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Father Gary Zerr

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