Last week my thirteen-year-old son John, my four-year-old daughter Clara and I were praying together in our prayer room. We were using the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a set of prayers said with rosary beads. The heart of the Divine Mercy chaplet is this petition addressed to the Father - "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." We modify the prayer a bit in our family, addressing Jesus and asking His mercy upon specific individuals. It is an excellent way to pray for 50 people, and at the end of each chaplet, we realize how many friends, family members, and others are still left on our hearts.
We went around the circle a few times - John, then Clara, then I - lifting names up to the Lord. When we came to Clara the third time, she paused. "This one is a little strange, " she warned us. And she prayed, "For the sake of Your sorrowful passion, have mercy on God."
I was surprised and needed a moment to think. My silence made Clara self-conscious. She ran to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and cried, "Mama, I couldn't help it! I just love Him so much!"
In that moment I knew, as circular as the prayer might be, it was highly pleasing to the Trinity!
Jesus prayed for the Father's desires. " Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
I am not sure exactly what it would mean for Jesus to have mercy on the Father. While all contemplation of the Trinity makes my head spin, it is easier for me to conceive of the Father having mercy on the Son. But I do know that Jesus praised His Father, thanked His Father, glorified, obeyed and loved His Father. And I believe that at least part of the reason Jesus has mercy upon us is that such mercy blesses the Father.
Though I cannot wrap my little brain around my daughter's prayer, I want more of her heart. I want to consider God's desires before my own, "because I love Him so much!"