By Allison Auth

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” ~ Luke 6:36

I glanced at today’s Mass readings and cried, “No, no, no Lord! I can’t write a reflection for today! I don’t know how to love my enemies. I struggle to pray for those who persecute me or do good to those who hate me.”

I sat for a bit in the uncomfortableness of Jesus’ exhortation, and then I recalled a text I had gotten from a priest friend a few months back. I had written him asking for prayers because I was struggling with forgiving someone. He wrote back on Thanksgiving day:

“God shows us in the little things that He has taken care of the biggest thing! So we feast today recognizing there was a time when we lacked, we come together today recognizing there was a time we were apart, we reconcile today know that we have been forgiven much, much more than we forgive.”

I looked back at the Gospel, and the line jumped out: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

I have been forgiven much

I now had two choices. I could either nurse my wounds and count the injustices done to me, or I could reflect on my own failings and how much I have needed to be forgiven. God has forgiven me every time I ask, so how could I not do the same? When I focus on how much God has forgiven me, the mercy overflows from my own heart onto others.

I chose to forgive with the help of God’s grace, although sometimes it can be a process. A few weeks later, I asked a woman for forgiveness for the harsh words I had spoken to her years earlier. She readily forgave me, and it was so freeing. Love does heal wounds. Mercy is an invitation to conversion, while condemnation and unforgiveness lead to more division.

God’s Beloved

In today’s first reading, Saul is seeking to murder David. When David has the chance to kill Saul, he doesn’t take it. David chooses to love his enemy. He will not touch the Lord’s anointed, even though his life is on the line. When Saul does eventually die, his blood is not on David’s hands.

It helps to remember that each person who has hurt me is also beloved by God. They are also the Lord’s chosen ones, who Jesus desires and died for. I hope to be like David and not return evil for evil, but I need God’s help.

The Need for Mercy

When I become aware of my own sinfulness and need for God’s mercy, I realize I am no different than those I am struggling to forgive. God loves our “enemies” as much as he loves us! We are all the Lord’s chosen ones. And even if the external circumstances don’t change— even if, like with David and Saul, reconciliation is not possible—our hearts can be merciful, just as our Heavenly Father is merciful.

Prayer

Lord, your mercy extends from age to age. You never get tired of forgiving. Help me to love like you, to forgive like you. Thank you for forgiving me. 

Call to Action

Who is someone that I need to work on forgiving? Take a minute to remember how much God has forgiven you and then ask for the grace to extend that forgiveness to the other.

© 2025 WINE — All Rights Reserved