“Return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.” (Joel 2:12-13)

Let us be filled with joy, forever gracious because of the kindness of God. Our God is a God of Mercy. The mercy of God does not condone sin but rather, compassionately recognizes repentance. By His offering Mercy to Us, it is required that we also offer Mercy onto one another.

By human nature, we tend to be self-centered, and probably most of us have difficulty forgiving others when we are wronged. Or at least, finding faults in others rather than ourselves, just as is noted of the Pharisees in the Gospel reading. Is there someone today you can think of recently who has offended you in their actions or words?

Yet, as Christian disciples, we are expected to put judgmental feelings aside at the service of our relationship with Christ.  Instead, God asks us to love and pray for one another, particularly those who are in most need of forgiveness, such as our enemies. Not only this, but we must also learn to forgive ourselves as well for mistakes, for we are all first products of God’s creation and love for mankind.

With such realization, we can grow in holiness, emulating Christ and allowing Him to shine in us and fixate on our “pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus”, the prize of eternal life through His glory.

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