Aug.13.01: Light For The Day - "God's Mercy" -- 1 Peter 1:3 (RSV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." ------------- Merciful Lord, it does not surprise me that You forget completely the sins of those who repent. I am not  surprised that You remain faithful to those who hate  and revile you, The mercy which pours forth from  You fills the whole world. It was by Your mercy that we were created, and by  Your mercy that you redeemed us by sending your Son.  Your mercy is the light in which sinners find You and  good people come back to You.  Your mercy is everywhere, even in the depths of hell  where you offer to forgive the tortured souls (1Pet. 4:6.) Your justice is constantly tempered with mercy,  so You refuse to punish us as we deserve.  O mad lover! It was not enough for you to take on  our humanity; you had to die for us as well. -- Catherine Of Siena --------------- -- Jude 1:21 (RSV) "Keep yourselves in the love of God;  wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."