A Prayer: Mercy That Keeps Us Human
(Saturday Prayer of Release)
God of compassion,
you see the places where our vision has narrowed
and our hearts have grown guarded.
Teach us mercy that does not calculate,
grace that does not demand earning,
and love that still recognizes your image
even when it is hidden or distorted.
When judgment tightens our grip,
invite us to release.
When resentment weighs us down,
give us rest.
Help us remember
that in recognizing the humanity of another,
we preserve our own.
And that mercy given
is mercy received.
On this day of stillness,
soften what has grown hard,
heal what has grown tired,
and keep us human
in a world that forgets how.
Amen.
