The Gospels are rich with the parables of Jesus. The evangelist Luke, a masterful storyteller, tells us the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This story itself is a classic in its own right. It tells us of the compassion and mercy of the father toward his wayward son.
Forgiveness has been granted to us by the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This forgiveness is beyond any human measure and surpasses any human logic in the whole of history. Mercy is the deepest and most profound experience of God’s love for us. Mercy is God’s because He Himself is Mercy.
These prayers will help us realize our own sinfulness. At the same time, these prayers will also lead us to the realization that God welcomes us with His mercy, forgiveness, and love. May we find peace and assurance in God’s mercy through these prayers.
Prayer for God’s Mercy
Father, I come before You filled with shame and guilt. I may not be the perfect disciple You want me to be. I stumbled along the way. I committed mistakes. I transgressed Your commandments. I have sinned. I may have compromised many things and failed to follow Your will for me. I may have chosen to do things in my own way and at my own discretion and called it “freedom”. But Your words give me a promise: “If your sins are like scarlet, will they become like snow? If they are red like crimson, will they become like wool?” (Isaiah 1:18).
You know me very well. You know my struggles and frustrations. You know the desires residing in the deepest recesses of my heart. You know what I am going through now. I cling on to You, do not abandon me. The dark past I have is nothing compared to the glorious light of love You are ready to give in my here and now. You love me as Your own and have given up Your Son for my ransom. Now, I am comforted by Christ’s words: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” (John 15:9). I desire to remain in Your love.
But Father, You know my past and still forgive me. You see my present and still love me. How about tomorrow? What will become of me? A sinner again? An ungrateful creature who may betray Your faithful love? I am afraid, Lord. I am afraid to see another day in this fear-laden world. I am worried. I feel helpless. But just like Peter, whom You bade to come and walk on the water, I desire to come out of my comfort zones and come to You. Your words give me courage: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1).
Remind me, dear Father, that Your mercy is endless and Your compassion limitless. Never let me fall into despair. Never let me doubt Your mercy and love.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
Short prayer for mercy
Father of mercy, I come to You with all my guilt and shame. Have mercy on me, a wretched sinner. Forgive me for all the transgressions and sins I committed. Forgive me for the things I should have done but refused to do. Into Your mercy, o God, I submit myself, where I know I will find Your unending love and compassion. Through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
The Word of God
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Augustine of Hippo to implore God’s mercy
Beloved Saint Augustine of Hippo, I come to you to implore your intercession and prayers. When you were here on earth, you said that humility is central to the Christian faith and that humility is the foundation of all the other virtues. You told us that “If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.”
Tough times bring me down and cause me worries and anxiety. I lose heart because my weaknesses, failures, and sinfulness arrests me, that I cannot go any further, that I can not progress.
Hear my prayers, dear Saint Augustine, as I humble myself before God, imploring for His mercy and forgiveness. You were once away from God, but you were not a hopeless case before His eyes. God saw something great in you. Through your mother’s ceaseless prayers and tears, you have come to repentance, conversion, and holiness. Pray to God for me that I, too, may become like you.
O Saint Augustine, the grace of God has touched you so deeply that you have radically changed your ways. May I experience this life-changing grace of God. One day, in all humility and trust, may I say your words, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Saint Augustine of Hippo, pray for me. Amen.
Further reflection
The mercy of God has been manifested and was made known to us through the selfless sacrifice of Jesus. All throughout His life on earth, Jesus has always been consistent in doing one thing: to let God’s mercy be experienced in the lives of all people. He healed many sick people because of mercy. He fed thousands of people because His heart was moved with pity. He looked upon the sinners with His eyes full of compassion. He called His disciples not because they were worthy but because of mercy.
Sometimes, we feel we are not worthy of God’s mercy. Our weaknesses and sins hinder us in approaching His throne of mercy. But God assures us that we are not hopeless. God believes in our capacity to turn our life around. He desires us to become good and holy.
If we feel discouraged in approaching God to implore His mercy, remember that He is the God who is merciful and compassionate. God’s grace can melt even the hardest of hearts. We just have to trust that grace. So, don’t lose hope! You are a beloved of God. He sees your inestimable value. He knows your struggles and stays with you. He understands. He listens. He trusts in your ability to change. You just have to put your hope in Him and in His abundant grace.
