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, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Many years ago, as a harried young mom, I remember rushing out the door after a trying morning with two pre-teens and spewing something to the effect of “I’m glad to be leaving!” To which my sons replied unflappably, “We’re glad you’re leaving, too.” Once again, I’d fallen short of living the way I wanted to live, and my departure was probably best for all involved!
When I fall short in the “judge/condemn not” and “forgiveness/giving categories”, I can remember Daniel in today’s first reading, praying fervently for his people to be granted mercy (Dan. 9:4b-10) as he begs, “…we have sinned and done wrong…”. How often is the measure I dish out not the measure I hope to get back? “One more chance, God.….” Each day, I can pray about the times I was close to God and where I turned away, through the Examen prayer of St. Ignatius.
—Donna K. Becher, M.S. is an associate spiritual director intern at the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality, Charleston, West Virginia. Her training is rooted in the Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
—Steps of a daily Examen
Please share the Good Word with your friends!
