On Monday, March 2nd, in the Gospel of Luke (6:36) we shall hear the words “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” And, according to the late Pope Francis, this is an invitation to cross what he called the “mercy bridge,” offering an understanding of a way to both encounter Christ’s mercy and to share His mercy with another. As we enter into the second week of Lent, and as we live in a world that is unforgiving more times than not, the late Pope Francis used to say “God’s mercy is everything. It is in the air we breathe.” He also described God’s mercy as a bridge that connects us to God, “Not one bridge among many, but the bridge between us and God.” We are called to cross that bridge every day receiving God’s mercy and then return over it to offer our mercy to others. How much better would our world—and nation—be if we were a more forgiving people? How much better would our home life be, if we forgave our parents, children, spouses, in-laws and neighbors?

Forgiveness does not mean accepting what someone does, what they said, or how they act, but it is a way to “re-set” a relationship, by talking rather than yelling or hating someone; rather we are called to understand them, maybe not accept the word or action, but move forward in love
and forgiveness with understanding that while I do not like what you said or did, I do not—
and am not called—to hate you. The corporal works of mercy include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned and burying the dead (here is a shout-out to our Lenten Mercy Project for Lent) – but we can also add to that list by extending our forgiveness and mercy to those in need, especially in our homes and community. Let us attempt to kick-off the second week of Lent from the Mercy Bridge, and let’s begin that at home