If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
Matthew 12:7
We are called to be a people of mercy. Pope Francis even declared an entire year of mercy a couple of years ago (Jubilee Year 2016). We can try to be merciful and show kindness to our family and friends, and even people we meet, but are we merciful to ourselves? Do we beat ourselves up or strive to be our version of perfect, only to find failing and fault in the slightest mistake, and even thinking we are not good enough to be who God called us to be?
Those ideas are not from God. God can take our perfectly messy selves and renew us and with His presence in us, show us ways to be merciful to others. Being merciful and kind helps us to be God's presence in the world. And this starts with us being merciful and kind to ourselves, by accepting the forgiveness God offers us.
