"Grace" and "mercy" are words that most
people are familiar with in a general sense. Through literature, movies and
popular culture, we have formed vaguely religious ideas in our minds about the
meanings of these words. When considering the religious significance of words,
however, it's important to be careful and precise. The meaning of a word in a
particular religion may be very different from its meaning in popular culture,
and definitions of words can even vary among different religious traditions.
I have always found these two words very intriguing. The magnitude of these words has become more
prominent today. Many people see mercy
as interwoven with forgiveness. We live
in a world where grace and mercy are sorely needed on many levels. We need to reach out to others and be willing
to offer mercy.
Pope Francis has declared this year to be a Holy Year of
Mercy! Let us follow Francis’ invitation
and see mercy in all that we do.
Pat Schifini, OSU
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