If you knew what this meant, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned these innocent men.
(Matthew 12:7)
Midway through this year of mercy, I took a few minutes to look up some synonyms and antonyms. One of the latter struck me as most appropriate. The word “disdain” is the opposite of “mercy.” What a hateful term it is.
Lord Jesus, when your disciples stripped some grain from a field on the sabbath, the Pharisees looked on them with disdain. They condemned them for this simplest of acts.
If I think, “I would never do that,” I am smug and disdainful. If I am merciful, I will think, “There (but for the grace of God) go I.” To judge is to be merciless. “God forbid,” says St. Paul, “that I should presume to pass judgment, even on myself.” Please give me the grace to think, speak and act mercifully today.