...For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

Romans 11:32

God desires Mercy for all. Period. We forever want to put qualifications on that. Or read our tea leaves and prognosticate about who has definitively excluded themselves from that grace. Or figure out ways to limit that grace. But God's grace is clever and much bigger than our little theories.

That doesn't mean everybody is bound to be saved. But it does mean we are bound to desire the salvation of all and not try to figure out ingenious ways to exclude Those We Are Pretty Sure God Doesn't Approve Of.

Such people are called "enemies." We are not to pretend they are not our enemies. We are to face the fact they are, speak that fact frankly, and bless them.

Today, seek the mercy of God for yourself and your worst enemy. God have mercy on Osama bin Laden and that guy who cut me off on the freeway. Bless them twice as much as me!

I leave it to you, O Lord, to figure out who is and is not willing to receive your mercy. It's your job, not mine.

Mark Shea is Senior Content Editor for Catholic Exchange and a weekly columnist for the National Catholic Register. You may visit his website at www.mark-shea.com check out his blog, Catholic and Enjoying It!, or purchase his books and tapes here.

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