"I know you all don't have to do this, that is why I am so grateful for the breakfast here."

A man who came for breakfast at Morning Glory said this to me before he left. The "you all" in his expression of gratitude refers to all the volunteers, donors and staff who make the breakfast possible each morning.

His gratitude was for more than just the meal. As he said, he knew that all involved at Morning Glory "don't have to do it." He knows that people who receive the meals at Morning Glory did not pay for them, nor earn them. The meals are a gift, one might say, a gift of mercy.

The word "mercy" suggests that something is done for another even though he or she doesn't deserve it. Someone who did something illegal and is subsequently brought before a judge may say, "I throw myself at the mercy of the court," meaning, "I know I deserve a harsh punishment, but I am asking for something less."

The Gospel this Sunday is the story of ten lepers who are healed by Jesus. It says that when they saw Jesus they "raised" their voices and said, "Have mercy on us." (Some versions say "have pity on us").

For some reasons, they must have felt like they didn't deserve healing, hence, their request for mercy. And as we know from the story, Jesus was merciful to them as he healed them.

Pope Francis' first book as pope was entitled, "The Name of God is Mercy." Pope Francis writes that "mercy is the first attribute of God."

Lepers in the Bible, and folks that come for breakfast at Morning Glory, are not the only ones in need of mercy, all of us do. We begin each Mass asking the Lord for mercy and not just once but three times!

It can be tempting to give people only what they deserve. That would be considered fair or just. The Gospel asks us though that we give more than they deserve, that we give each other mercy.