This meditation is based on the Douay-Rheims Bible translation, accessible on the Classical Liberal Arts Academy‘s website. Note, the numbering system is slightly different than more modern translations like the NABRE.
“Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgement.” (Psalm 111:5)
There is nothing I desire more than to be acceptable to God–to one day be called His “good and faithful servant”. I want Him to find me, at any moment of my life, faithfully and prudently using the goods and resources He gave me (Luke 12:42). I want to have the wisdom to properly distribute His goods “at the proper time”. I’m not meant to satisfy all my desires or the desires of my children or husband, according to our own plans but rather according to the plans of the master who provided us with the goods. Otherwise, if we abuse His goods by using them contrary to His will, we will be placed among the unfaithful (Luke 12:46).
This responsibility is always heavy on me. It is the reason I struggle with discernment in balancing leniency towards my children with the discipline they must be raised with. I fear that if I don’t always enforce the consequences of their actions, that they will learn to ignore my commands or become insubordinate to authority in the future, as teenagers or as adults. I fear failing my duty to raise them with habits of self-control, patience, obedience, and so on with the other virtues, so I often err on the side of being too severe.
Yet, if I meditate on the Lord’s mercy throughout the history of mankind, I can see that He is willing to forgive in moments of repentance. He forgave the Ninevites when they ceased to sin, put on sackcloth, and pleaded for mercy (Jonah 3:6-10). If my children, then, apologize and show signs of sorrow, I should be willing to refrain from enforcing the consequences that would have followed. God does not become inconsistent simply because He does not enforce every threat or does not strike people dead on the first act of sin. Rather, it shows His slowness to anger, His mercy, and His patience. It shows that He truly desires the salvation of the sinner, not their destruction.
So I, too, should be like God and show mercy. I will remind myself that this mercy is what merits mercy for myself. I am not violating my duties to discipline for being lenient towards my children when they are repentant. Rather, I help fulfill another duty:
“Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children” (CCC 2223)
And also:
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)
What best example can I provide than that of the imitation of my good Lord? What better instruction can I give than that of balancing mercy and justice? I can model for my children what forgiveness looks like while still keeping them mindful of their duty to obedience. Obviously, obstinacy is punished, but it takes many stubborn refusals in order to be called “obstinate”. God sent prophet after prophet, chance after chance, before He finally decided to punish. I think of the parable of the wicked tenants and the vineyard, where the owner (or God) kept sending servants, eventually even sending His Son–all in hopes that they would eventually repent and change their ways (Matthew 21:33-41).
In conclusion, if I want to be acceptable to the Lord, I must imitate Him in mercy. I must be like the prophets He sent and make known the will of the Lord to the children by setting clear but simple rules, modeling the obedience to the rules myself, and firmly but gently reminding them of those rules. If they disobey, I must warn of the consequences and if I am obliged to enforce them, I will always be looking for genuine signs of sorrow and repentance–that is, of a change in behavior or attitude. If I see that change, then like God, I will happily forgive and embrace them.
Oh my God, I am always mindful of Your good commands and of my duties towards the souls that You entrusted to my care. I beg you to give me the wisdom I need to raise them according to Your discipline. Help me be just like You are but also as merciful as You are. I trust You will guide me in my efforts and not leave me to raise these souls on my own.
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for me so I may be as tender as you are. Praise be to God forever. Amen.
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