Deacon Terry Barber of Sacred Heart in Lacey, Washington, shared a message of God's great mercy in the church's Aug. 30 bulletin.

Dcn. Barber had been reading Pope Francis’ “The Name of God is Mercy” and explained what he has discovered from it.

“As Catholics we can see the connection between our need to seek God’s mercy and to gratefully receive the grace that comes in Holy Eucharist,” Barber said in the bulletin.

Pope Francis explained in the interview about the Year of Mercy that it is imperative that we humble ourselves in order to receive mercy from the Lord. It is easy to find examples of Christ showing His mercy throughout the Scriptures, both directly and then as parables that he taught.

Despite the nearly limitless mercy that we are given by Christ, we are only asked to sacrifice a small amount.

“The Church in its wisdom, asks us to fast for only an hour before the reception of Holy Communion," Barber said. "This small sacrifice is a way of atoning for our faults and failings."

The way that the service is planned out even points back to our pleas for mercy from God, with the Penitential Rite, as does the prayer before receiving the Eucharist.

“Jesus left us a living memorial— the Mass— to receive the grace we desire and need,” Barber said. “What a love God has for us! Communion is our heavenly strengthening food which nourishes us to live as God’s holy people.”

While we may never understand why the Lord grants us such mercy, we can express our gratitude for it by living a life that is faithful to him.

“No words of mine can adequately describe God’s generous gift of mercy and pardon (Confession) and words fail to adequately express God’s gifts of his sharing Himself and His deep love for us (Eucharist)," Dcn. Barber said. "We can only be in awe and marvel at our God who chases after us in order to share His gifts."