Mercy, On-going Practice

The 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time echoes the message of mercy. Over the years, there have been countless stories of a person who has offered forgiveness for something that has happened.

One known story for Catholics is how St. John Paul the Great forgave the man hired by the Soviet Union to kill him in 1981. The man’s name is Mehmet Ali Agca. Fortunately, the great pope of the last century survived to bring down communism without a missile or military force. After recovering from the injury, the pope visited him in the prison where he was incarcerated and talked for hours. Today, that would be assassin is serving a life sentence in an Italian prison.

For what it’s worth, there will be times when people are going to do things that will inflict harm on us, whether it’s physical, spiritual, or psychological. Looking at the example above, the great leader of the Catholic Church did show that mercy can be shown.

Even Christ showed mercy to all who were blind in carrying out his betrayal and crucifixion when he said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”

When Jesus tells us to forgive seventy times seven, he is telling us to always forgive. Even if they keep committing the same offenses. In Psalm 103, we are reminded of his mercy. It reads:

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.

He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.

Christ showed us what his love and mercy are all about when he hung on the cross on Good Friday. Through his cross, we learn forgiveness of heart. Through the cross, we learn about his unconditional love for sinners and saints alike.

In turn, let us forgive others just as he has forgiven all of us. Mercy is not one and done. It is an ongoing practice. Mercy begins with us. We learn from Christ what it entails to be merciful and to receive mercy in return.