A Latin spiritual journey with discerning hearts, from ashes to glory.

Day 13

Be merciful as your father is merciful.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke, chapter 6, verses 36 through 38,

Be merciful, just as your father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and it will be given to you. A good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap, for the measure you

use will be measured to you.

Mercy is at the heart of the Christian life.

Jesus did not simply ask us to be merciful.

He commands it.

Be merciful just as your father is merciful.

Mercy is not about excusing wrongdoing,

but about reflecting the heart of God, who never withholds his love from us. It is easy to expect mercy for ourselves, but struggle to extend it to others.

We hold on to grudges, justify our anger, and demand justice on our terms. But Jesus reminds us that the measure we use for others

is the measure that will be used for us. If we desire mercy, we must first be willing to give it.

Aba Pohman once said,

Do not dwell on the wrongs done to you, and you will find mercy.

But if you judge harshly, the same judgment will be upon you.

Mercy does not mean ignoring sin, but approaching others with the same patience and tenderness

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