Something I always need more work on. When it comes to sinful Man, mercy is always far more needed than justice.
Thought For The Day
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Especially when we beg God to: “forgive us our trespasses …. As we forgive those who trespass against us.”
As Father John Hardon said: “that is a terrifying thing to say.”
He also said that: “once or twice in our lives we will be called upon to forgive something done to us that was especially terrible”.
“that is a terrifying thing to say.”
Indeed, and it sails by too many people as they recite it.
I hear this story told (up for debate as for the origin of the story) when I listen to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3pm in the afternoons on the radio:
A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death as the penalty for his crimes.
“But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.”
“But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied.
“Sir,” the woman cried, “If he deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy. And so I ask for mercy.”
“Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.