The Lord commands us to forgive indefinitely and to express our forgiveness not just by kindness and patience but by mercy. We don't just give those who have offended us time to pay us back, but we write off the debt and take the loss ourselves (Mt 18:27). For example, if someone hits your car, God's way of forgiving may require more than controlling your temper and being understanding. God's forgiveness may mean paying for the damage yourself. This is mercy, which is the essence of God's forgiveness.
God expressed His mercy by sending His Son Jesus to atone for all our sins. The cost of mercy is the life, blood, and death of Jesus. The Lord expects us to pass on to others the mercy He has given us (Mt 18:33). He lets us share in His mercy by filling up in our own bodies what is lacking in His sufferings (Col 1:24). Instead of making others pay for what they've done, we pay for it not only financially but also emotionally. Thereby we share with Jesus in His sufferings and will share with Him in His glory. "Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs" (Mt 5:7).
| PRAYER: | Father, work the miracle of mercy in me. |
| PROMISE: | "Should you not have dealt mercifully with your fellow servant, as I dealt with you?" –Mt 18:33 |
| PRAISE: | St. Maximilian prayed for the souls of the Nazis who persecuted him. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College