Last weekend, we heard the passage of the Prodigal Son, a story about God's mercy. The Father goes above and beyond to welcome the younger son back into the family. Luke's Gospel, can be described as the Gospel of Mercy. Mercy is to forgive someone even when they don't deserve to be forgiven. Today's readings continue to focus on the theme of mercy.

St. Paul wrote about our prayers cannot be exclusive for a certain people. Prayer is for everyone, including those in authority. Prayers are for all people, especially for those who are not deserving of our prayers. Praying for people who are not deserving of our prayers is a work of mercy. We can't say: “I don't like that person, so I'm not going to pray for them.” “We don't share the same political outlook, so I'm going to withhold prayers for them. That person has offended me, or hurt me, so the last thing I'm going to do is pray for that person. We don't pray for people because they deserve it. By praying for them, it is a gift of mercy.

In today's Gospel, we hear the parable of Jesus about a dishonest steward. But we can see him as a prudent and merciful steward. Finding himself in a unfavorable situation, he calls the people who owes his master, and then reduces their debt. At least, he will be found favorable with them. You owe my master 100 measures of olive oil, now you owe only 50. You owe my master 100 bundles of wheat, now you owe only 80. Although the servant is dishonest, he knows that by being merciful, at least he would be found in good favor among some people.

Human mercy is finite and limited, and can be reciprocated. But it helps us to understand in a small way, God's extravagant mercy. Mercy is giving a gift even when we don't think that the other person is deserving of it. We do so, for the sake of Christ, for Holy Mother Church, for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The scriptures says: “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.”Amen.