And [Jesus] opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:2-7

What is required in mercy?
A choice.
A sacrifice.
A forgiveness
An opportunity for reconciliation.
Mercy is the journey of being wronged, recognizing the wrong and not asking the person who committed the wrong to compensate for the pain and loss.
Mercy is the faith of taking a temporary self loss for the sake of relational hope.
Mercy is the belief that healing and justice spring from sacrifice and forgiveness.
Mercy is an ownership of one’s own change and growth over enforcing change on another.
Mercy is self-responsibility for making things better regardless if others will do the same.
Being merciful grows one’s capacity for love and forgiveness. Being merciful is radical and does not add up in human mathematics. Being merciful is seeing a greater battle beyond flesh and bones and defeating the evil spirits that seek to divide humanity. In being merciful for others, I see mercy is possible on earth and that will open me to receiving mercy myself. Being merciful helps me to see that I, too, am worthy and capable of the mercy of God. There is nothing so unforgivable that God’s mercy does not cover.

Prayer: God I pray to keep my eyes on the battle against evils. God eradicate any tit for tat sentiments in me. God help me seek justice through mercy.

How has the feeling of “being owed” affected my relationships and how I view my place in the betterment of this world?

If you haven’t read Bryan Stevenson’s memoir Just Mercy, I encourage you to do it now.