The Path Back to God and One Another

March 17, 2025 Monday of the Second Week of Lent
Daily Readings: Daniel 9:4b-11 & Luke 6:36-38

We show mercy to those who seem undeserving because we depend on God’s mercy every single day. In Daniel 9:4-11, we hear a heartfelt confession: despite our repeated failures, God remains faithful. We break the covenant; God keeps it. His mercy is not based on our worthiness but on His steadfast love.

Psalm 79 echoes our desperate plea: “Do not remember against us the iniquities of the past; let your compassion come swiftly to meet us.” This is a cry for mercy—a recognition that we cannot stand before God on our own merits.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel (Luke 6:36-38), calls us to mirror this divine mercy: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Mercy isn’t ignoring sin or tolerating wrongdoing; it is a choice to love while waiting for repentance. It means refusing to judge hearts as unworthy of love, just as God never turns away from us, no matter how often we fail Him.

True mercy involves hope and belief in the possibility of change. It calls us to pray for those who hurt us and to work for reconciliation. If reconciliation is not yet possible, mercy waits patiently, prayerfully, and with open arms. God “forgets” our sins not by losing memory but by refusing to hold the past against us. We, too, are invited to forgive—allowing space for growth while wisely protecting ourselves from repeated harm.

Mercy, then, is not weakness; it is the strongest form of love. It chooses compassion over condemnation, offers hope over hurt, and restores broken relationships in God’s time. Let us walk this path of mercy, for it leads us back to the heart of God.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: Mercy goes beyond feelings—it demands deeds. Visit the lonely, feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, and forgive the offender. These are not suggestions; they are Christ’s commands.