The God who kept His wounds

“If the choice is between justice & mercy, always choose mercy. If you’re going to make a mistake then let it be because you were merciful.”

I cannot recall where I heard this quote, so I’m sorry that I’m unable to give credit where it’s due. It was likely from a homily since it was in my phone notes app where I usually record those lines from a priest that hit hard.

I pray you are still living in the echoes of Divine Mercy Sunday. The image we were given by Christ Himself through St. Faustina shows us that God’s love doesn’t just meet us halfway. His love is overwhelming, chasing us, seeking to be right in the depths of our own messiness. 

The Octave of Easter reminds us of the God who kept His wounds even after the Resurrection. Why? Perhaps to impress upon us that mercy isn't about pretending the hurt didn't happen, but about refusing to let the hurt have the final word.

Mercy is messy. It looks like forgiveness when the other person hasn't asked for it.

Mercy is risky. It makes us vulnerable to being hurt again.

Mercy is a mistake in the eyes of the world. The world calls it "weakness," but the Cross calls it "victory."

If you find yourself at a crossroads today, standing between the right to be "right" and the call to be kind, lean into the heart of the Father. If you are going to miscalculate, let it be because you gave too much grace. If you are going to be "wrong," let it be because you believed in someone’s capacity to change when no one else did. If you’re going to be “soft,” let it be because you understood that sometimes someone is just having a bad day.

Let us carry the spirit of Divine Mercy beyond a single Sunday. Let it be the lens through which we see the person cutting us off in traffic, the colleague who snapped at us, or the family member who feels distant. Go today and be the evidence of a love that never gives up.