When it comes to the subject of mercy and compassion, there is a common misunderstanding that the precondition for receiving God’s forgiveness is to forgive others; whereas the reality is that our ability to forgive others is a tangible sign that we’ve allowed God’s forgiveness to take hold in our lives.

Fr. Eric expands upon this point by reflecting on the Gospel story of the woman who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair (Lk 7:36-50), along with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Mt 18:21-35).  Topics discussed include the Lord’s Prayer, the need to forgive our neighbour in response to the mercy we have received from the Lord, and the proper notion of God’s forgiveness as something which puts us in a stance of perpetual gratitude towards the Lord who has suffered and died for our sins.

Concluding with an example from the film “Les Misérables” (2012), Fr. Eric reflects on how being loved in our weakness and brokenness can be a powerful impetus leading us to become people of tremendous love, mercy and compassion.

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