Year of Mercy Reflection

Friday, Feb. 05, 2016

I think most of the time when we think of mercy we think of vulnerable people – the poor, the sick, the needy – who need to be treated with kindness and helped with material goods such as food and clothing. 

Although this is an excellent example, what about the kind of mercy we may less frequently think of: “kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly” (Miriam Webster’s Dictionary)?  

In my mind, this definition of mercy is less about those who have resources helping the needy and more about how we treat those we work with, our neighbors, family and others who don’t need material or financial goods. I think most of us have experienced hurt from someone, and in our minds justify the hurt we hold on to.  

I recently experienced mercy firsthand. Something I did damaged a relationship. I thought to myself, “I know for sure they will not forgive me.”  I was too embarrassed to even ask.  If I were them, I’d totally cut me out from the relationship. 

To my astonishment, this person looked at the situation with loving mercy. They could tell that I was agonizing, believed I was sorry, and we moved on, almost as a lesson learned from a mistake.  I couldn’t believe we could get past it and be the same.  

This was one of the strongest feelings of mercy being received I’ve ever felt.  I hope to show mercy to those who may do the same to me by making a mistake and apologizing. To me that is the hardest act of mercy: forgiving and moving on.  

As humans created by God we are all brothers and sisters, regardless of our differences. Let us all try to treat each other with the endless love and mercy God has shown us.

Jeremy Castellano

Lay Ecclesial Minister

St. Joseph the Worker Parish