Vinita Hampton Wright reflects on what mercy looks like in everyday life in a recent article for National Catholic Reporter. Wright realizes that mercy is about small moments in most cases.
For example, mercy gives you his seat on the bus, acting as if he was about to get up anyway rather than making you feel that he is doing you a favor. Mercy does not let out that sigh—you know the one—the wordless disapproval toward the person in the check-out line ahead of you whose card didn’t swipe, or who can’t find her coupons, or whose toddler is having a meltdown. Mercy offers quiet sympathy and does not convey with her body language that this holdup is ruining her day. Sometimes mercy chooses not to send back the food that isn’t just right, simply because the waitress looks overwhelmed.
What moments of mercy can you live out today?
Thank you, Vinita, for your “simple prayer about Mercy”. Simple but “soulfilling”. God among us.
I–ignore
C–criticize
E–evade helping
Will try not to ICE a person.
Fits in with parable of the “Good Samaritan”.