QUID PRO QUO
The
title of this reflection is a Latin phrase that means we should expect
to be treated by others the same way we treat them. It is hypocritical
to expect two different standards at work in the world — one for me and
one for everyone else. We are all equal in God’s eyes and that is how we
will be judged on the Last Day. It is essential that we accept and
treat all people fully recognizing their human dignity. It is when we
lose sight of the absolute nature of human dignity that sin enters into
our relationships and begins to destroy the fabric of human society as a
result.
The parable today demonstrates how justice alone is not enough to
maintain a truly civil relationship. If we demand justice alone, what
place are we giving to the grace of mercy in our lives? How can we
expect God’s mercy to be poured upon us if we are unwilling to offer the
same to others? Mercy has the capacity to repair broken relationships.
Love is also essential. The lack of mercy angers Jesus in today’s
parable. The servant, after being shown great mercy (his enormous debt
was written off) is unwilling to forgive the small amount a fellow
servant owes him.
As we seek the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins, it is a very good
practice to examine how generous we are in giving mercy to others. If we
are not good at this, how can we expect God to be merciful to us? The
logic of this argument is irrefutable, its practice so much more
difficult.
As we seek to imitate the mercy of Jesus, let us pray for the grace to
choose love over revenge, love over hatred, love over resentment, love
over mere justice. When we are on the right side of these equations, we
will know that we can both ask for and receive the mercy of God in our
lives. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTION: What rules your relationships — mercy or justice?
Jesus,
help me to avoid all forms of hypocrisy in my walk as Your disciple.
Help me to embrace the call to love and to forgive the sins of those who
sin against me.
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