# Mercy Is the Heart of the Gospel
*2016-03-08*

> Bill reflects on St. John of God and explores how mercy lies at the core of the Gospel, drawing on Luke 8:21 and the Church’s mission to evangelize with compassion.

## A Saint We Might Not Know

St. John of God (1495‑1550) is not a household name, even for me. He was a soldier until the age of forty, when a deep conversion led him to repent of his sins. After hearing a sermon by St. John of Ávila, he publicly mortified himself and was briefly placed in a mental institution. There, St. John of Ávila visited him and urged him to focus on serving others. John of God responded by caring for the poor and the sick, gaining respect and followers. We pray to him today, asking that we, like John, learn to help others, for in serving the least we serve Christ Himself.

## Mercy at the Center of the Gospel

Our Scripture reading for today is Luke 8:21: “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” The Church is commissioned to proclaim God’s mercy, the beating heart of the Gospel, which must penetrate every person’s heart and mind. Like Jesus, who went to everyone without exception, the Church must model its behavior on mercy. In this new evangelization, the theme of mercy must be presented repeatedly, with fresh enthusiasm and renewed pastoral action.

## Living the Mercy We Preach

It is essential for the Church’s credibility that she herself lives and testifies to mercy. Her language, gestures, and deeds must transmit mercy so that people are touched and drawn again to the Father. The Church’s primary truth is the love of Christ; she becomes a servant of that love, mediating it to all. This love forgives and is expressed in the gift of self‑sacrifice. Consequently, wherever the Church is present, God’s mercy must be evident.

## Prayer for Mercy

Jesus, help me find more ways to live and testify to your love and mercy. Amen.

*When we embody mercy in our lives, we become true witnesses to the Gospel.*