Mercy is not really an easy concept for us to understand, probably because it is not something we can ever really know until we experience it. And we certainly can't offer it as a gift to others until we have consented to receive it for ourselves.
I have spent alot of time wrestling with mercy... maybe you have, too. Before we can let the full impact of the power of mercy touch us, we first have to acknowledge the darkess, evil and sin that lurks around in our thoughts and in our words, in what we have done and what we have failed to do. And that's not easy.
We have to push through our defenses, face our deepest fears, expose our frailties and give up our grasp on guilt, shame and the propensity to be merciless toward ourselves. It's a tall order. And an impossible one without the aid of grace. We receive that grace in the Sacrament of Confession, where we come face to face with Mercy Himself.
It is through our encounter with Him, when the mountains that encircle our thoughts and the stone that guards our hearts are moved by mercy and we are brought into the light of His love, forgiveness and healing. Then, once we've received these things, these precious gifts, we are compelled by grace to give them to others. That's when mercy abounds... yes it really does!