Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful
For the last week, I have been reading a chapter a night of Pope Francis’ autobiography, ‘Hope’. I find the book engaging and gives me a good insight into the way he thinks and a background to many of his signature concerns. It is rich in memories from his youth and childhood that shaped the future pope. And each chapter contains a few nuggets of wisdom.
One such pearl is his differentiation between pity and mercy. He laments that many persons pity others, they feel sorry for them, but think that is their situation, it has nothing to do with me. They do not get involved. They are like the persons who pass by the man robbed on his way down to Jerico, in the story of the Good Samaritan.
Mercy, on the other hand is being moved with empathy to get involved and do something about it. The good Samaritan, stopped, bandaged his wounds and provided care. He was merciful.
Mercy is moving beyond passive sentiment and embrace active compassion. Mercy requires stepping into another’s suffering and taking responsibility for their well-being, even when it is inconvenient. He reminds us that true mercy is not just a feeling but a commitment to action.
The Pope’s insight sheds light on this week’s Gospel Luke 6: 27-38 ‘Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.’ It is a call to move beyond pity to imitate the Father who is merciful to us.
As I reflect on this distinction, I find myself questioning: How often do I settle for pity when I am called to mercy? Where in my daily life can I become more like the Good Samaritan, willing to stop, engage, and make a difference?
Jesus’ call to try to emulate the Father’s mercy is a tall order. The Father is merciful to us even when we are unworthy, when we fail, and when we turn away from Him. His mercy is unconditional, never dependent on our merit but flowing from His infinite love. Jesus challenges us to extend that same mercy to others—not just to those who deserve it, but also to those who disappoint us, wrong us, or seem beyond redemption.
This is a radical call, one that goes against our natural instincts for fairness and retribution. Yet, in striving to emulate the Father’s mercy, we open ourselves to true transformation, allowing God’s grace to work through us and bring healing to the world around us.
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