A Reflection On Mercy

When I need to extend forgiveness to those around me

How do we know if we understand the mercy of God? There’s an easy test: If you are the kind of person who shows mercy, you are the kind of person who has experienced mercy.

Jesus told a sobering parable to illustrate the point (see Matthew 18:22-35). A servant owed a king an impossibly huge sum of money. Not being able to pay it, the servant and his family were subject to being sold into slavery. But begging on his knees for patience, the servant drew sympathy from the king, who generously forgave the debt. But then the servant went out and demanded trivial payments from his debtors, bringing full charges against those who could not pay. Mercy had never sunk in. He had benefited from it, but he had no clue what it really meant.

Human nature is hypocritical. We regard others’ offenses much more highly than our own. Don’t buy into that double standard. Take this test: Are you judgmental toward others? Easily offended? Go back to the Cross and meditate on the forgiveness God has given you. It will cure you of any lack of mercy.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7