How Many Times?

Gospel: Matthew 18: 21-35

How many times in our lives have we come before the Lord begging for mercy? In every liturgy we begin with the penitential rite where we ask pardon.  Every night in the Liturgy of the Hours we make an examination of conscience and ask God for forgiveness for this day's sins.  How often have we been to the sacrament of penance asking for mercy over and over, repeating the same sins again and again?

And yet how often are we merciful to other people? How often have we been given a meaningless penance of a few prayers that does not challenge us to be merciful to others.  How often we neglect to be merciful! How many grudges, private hopes for vengeance, and enmities we bear against others.  How much violence, warfare, retribution, and meanness.  How often we look down upon those in need - people we have put in a position of need - so that we might appear better than they!

Jesus made it clear that there is only one condition for salvation and entrance to God's kingdom, and that is showing mercy to others.  It is not about proper creedal statements or precise theology; it is not about attendance at church or at the "right" liturgy; it is not about attending Christian schools or building shrines.  It is solely about showing mercy to other people.