Be Merciful…
"Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you;; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you," (Luke 6:36-38).
You want a food for the soul today? Then read the above text. Read it slowly for the second time. Feel what it proclaims. Feel the joy that it brings to your heart. Then cry if you must. Call them tears for joy. Why? Because God has been merciful to you. He has forgiven you several times; and has given you back the hundredfold that He promised for every act of kindness that you extended to the least of your brothers and sisters.
That is how God measures us. Yes, in spite of our flawed humanity, our stubbornness and pride, and countless betrayals of His love. Surely, this is and undeserved charity from God. But He does it nonetheless and He asks nothing in return, except that we follow His lead.
Is it still a wonder then that He demands the same bigheartedness from every one of us? We receive mercy countless of times. Can we not be merciful ourselves? To whom? To your spouse, children, house helpers, officemates, annoying neighbors or to whom God wills you to dispense mercy. We were not judged, so we were not condemned even if we deserve it. Instead, we were forgiven. Can we not do the same? Also, much has been given to us. In fact, all that we have has been given. St. Paul said, "Name anything you have which you did not receive." With such a realization, can we not therefore share?
