Christ, have mercy on us

Something caught my eye in Pope Francis' recent America interview. The press was abuzz with shocked experts who, for some reason, were surprised by a pope who said he is a "sinner." For those of us who try fervently to live out our faith in Christ, there is no shock at all over his words. What caught my eye though was that in this portion of the interview he discusses the reality that he is, like everyone else, in great need of the Lord's mercy. He continues:

...the best summary, the one that comes more from the inside and I feel most true is this: I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon... I ​​am one who is looked upon by the Lord. I always felt my motto, Miserando atque Eligendo ["By Having Mercy and by Choosing Him"], was very true for me.

He continues with something that catches my attention in a particular way:

I think the Latin gerund miserando is impossible to translate in both Italian and Spanish. I like to translate it with another gerund that does not exist: misericordiando [“mercy-ing”].

It occurs to me that I usually think of "having mercy" on someone as merely a passive action. I want to punish this person, I want them to pay for what they've done, to be brought to justice. But instead I hold back and I behave mercifully instead. Mercy is usually perceived then an act of restriction or repression. I'm holding back from what I truly want. I don't think I'm alone in this; I imagine it's pretty common.

What I find so intriguing about the Holy Father's words is his understanding of mercy as an active action, not a passive one. What a different perspective this can give us. If we are to have any hope of really seeing Christ's mercy as strength and not weakness (and emulating him in being merciful), I think it's crucial to develop this notion of active rather than passive mercy. Then I can start to see "having mercy on others" in the right light. I can begin to see the countless opportunities before me to reach out with a compassionate mind, an empathetic heart, with Christ's own merciful hands. Showing others mercy becomes an act of gift-giving to those I encounter each day.

I'll close this entry with a simple and beautiful quote from Pope Francis in the same America article, a statement born out of true humility and something that should guide all who seek to grow closer to Our Lord:

I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I accept in a spirit of penance.