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Thursday, August 14, 2014

What rules your relationships — mercy or justice? - Daily Reflections August 14,2014


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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