No One Deserves Mercy!

Once, a young French soldier deserted Napoleon’s army. He was captured within a matter of hours, by his own troop. To discourage soldiers from abandoning their posts the penalty for desertion was death. The young soldier’s mother heard what had happened and went to plead with Napoleon to spare her son’s life. Napoleon heard her plea but pointed out that because of the serious nature of the crime her son had committed he clearly did not deserve mercy.

‘I know he doesn’t deserve mercy,’ the mother answered. ‘It wouldn’t be mercy if he deserved it.’

To be merciful is to forgive someone even when he does not deserve to be forgiven - it is a gift given gratuitously. Showing mercy is the mark of a great man.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

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