Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
“Sweet is the thought of mercy, but even more so is mercy itself. It is what all men hope for, but unfortunately, not what all men deserved. For while all men wish to receive it, only a few are willing to give it…Human mercy has compassion on the miseries of the poor. Divine mercy grants forgiveness of sins. Whatever human mercy bestows here on earth, divine mercy will return to us in our homeland.”
Caesarius of Arles (c. 470-542) in Sermon 25 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 406.
It’s easy to be generous to those who seem deserving of our aid. It’s another story altogether to show mercy to those who have made poor choices or even deserve judgment.
Caesarius rightly notes that everyone wants it but few are willing to give it. And what does our Lord say? He commands us to be merciful as our Father is merciful.
I am thankful for this idea that I receive the forgiveness I need as I forgive others and show mercy. I show I understand the mercy the gospel by how I generously extend it’s mercy to others.