The pope goes on to underscore the fact that “judging and condemning one’s brother who sins is wrong.” Because, he explains, “to condemn the sinner breaks the bond of fraternity with him and ignores the mercy of God, who does not want to give up on any of his children.”
During a general audience in last month, Francis focused on a reading from Luke (6:36-38), in which Jesus instructs his disciples to stop judging others and be merciful, as God is.
The motto for the Year of Mercy, “Merciful Like the Father,” comes from this admonition.
Also, by showing mercy to others, God will return that measure of mercy to us after our deaths. As the pope said, “It is we ourselves who decide how we will be judged.”
Our prayer for today:
Peter W. Yaremko, a former journalist, is the owner of Executive Media, Inc. and is a specialist in executive communications. He attends St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown, Massachusetts and blogs at peterwyaremko.com/paradise_diaries.