Mercy means to treat others better than they deserve. The Lord is "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4) to the point that He gives us mercy every moment of our lives. Because of our sins, we don't deserve to live, for the wages of sin is death (Rm 6:23). Therefore, every moment of life is a gift of God's mercy. We certainly don't deserve to become a new creation (see Gal 6:15), share in God's nature (2 Pt 1:4), and have God live within us (see Jn 17:23; 1 Cor 6:19), but the Lord has been overwhelmingly merciful. We don't deserve to be forgiven, to pray, serve God, share the Gospel, receive Communion, rise from the dead, or go to heaven. However, the Lord has given us mercy. His mercy is great (Dn 3:42), rich (Eph 2:4), constant, unimaginable (1 Cor 2:9), everlasting (Ps 136).

As the major beneficiaries of God's mercy and as children of the God of mercy, we are to pass on the mercy we have received. The Lord insists on this (Mt 18:33). If we dam up the flow of God's mercy, we will experience God's judgment rather than His mercy (Mt 18:34-35). Consequently, "blest are they who show mercy" (Mt 5:7), for the Lord will not take away His mercy from them (Dn 3:35).

We pray: "Lord, have mercy." The Lord says: "You, have mercy."

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 2011

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.