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His Mercy Endures Forever
Bible Study Lessons on God’s Mercy
Our Father’s abiding love for each one of us makes him always ready to pour out mercy. In the Old Testament, he described himself as merciful and forgiving (Exodus 34:6-7)—and showed this mercy by establishing a covenant with his people and delivering them from slavery in Egypt. In the New Testament, we see the Father sending us his Beloved Son to die for our sin and pouring the Holy Spirit into the hearts of all who turned to him. Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God so wants us to be with him that he never withholds his mercy and compassion when we approach him with repentant hearts. His mercy is infinite—“his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136).
As you work through these Bible studies, ask the Spirit to help you deepen your grasp of how much the Father wants to shower his mercy upon all people. With this truth firmly planted in our hearts, we can be confident that he will answer our prayer, Kyrie eleison—“Lord, have mercy.”
Read the story of the rift and reconciliation between Jacob and Esau in Genesis 27, 32 and 33.
• How did Esau react to Jacob’s deceit initially? Why did Jacob need to reconcile with Esau before re-entering the Promised Land?
• How did Jacob’s struggle with God at Peniel help to prepare him for a new relationship with Esau? How does Jacob show that he is truly repentant for the way he treated Esau?
• Why do you think Jacob said that seeing Esau’s face was like seeing “the face of God” (Genesis 33:10)?
• Read Luke 5:17-26. What moved Jesus to forgive the paralytic man? What is the relationship between our faith and our openness to receiving God’s mercy?
• Read Luke 7:11-17. Why do you think Jesus brought the young man back to life? Look for clues in this story that point out Jesus’ tenderness and compassion. Can you see any ways that the boy’s mother might have reminded Jesus of his own mother, and what lay ahead for her?
• Read Luke 18:35-43. How did the blind man’s crying out to Jesus lead him to be healed? How do you think the Lord will respond when you ask for his mercy?
• Read Matthew 18:23-35. Jesus compared this story—the parable of the unmerciful servant—with the kingdom of heaven. How can our mercy help bring about the kingdom of heaven on earth?
This Bible study is intended especially for children and those who work with them.
Works of mercy are loving actions we do for those in need. Using the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC, 2447), make a chart listing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. You may also want to find examples in scripture where Jesus either did these works of mercy himself or instructed others about them (such as in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37). Then, as a group, decide upon a corporal work of mercy that you will do together. You could collect food for a community food bank or clothing for a homeless shelter, help out in a local soup kitchen or make cards for the homebound elderly in your area. Ask the children afterward how it felt to act as vessels of God’s mercy to others. Discuss ways in which you might be able to conduct these activities on a regular basis.
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