Hear the word of the Lord:
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 – NRSV
Lois Barrett connects this scripture with our culture:
The dominant culture teaches that good relationship depend on performance (“I will love you if …”). In the Beatitudes Jesus praises those who are merciful, who give others better than what they deserve. Mercy is one of God’s attributes throughout the Bible. Mercy is often connected with showing favor, being compassionate, being gracious, or demonstrating kindness. God practices mercy by saving people from enemies, rescuing them from trouble, and forgiving their sins. People are also to show mercy, as the parable of the unmerciful servant teaches (Matt. 18:21-35). In Hebrew and Greek, the concept is connected especially with showing mercy to the poor and needy and giving alms. The biblical practice of mercy always means that the one who shows mercy has something to give to another who is unable to pay it back. You ask a creditor to show mercy when you cannot pay what you owe (Matt. 18:26-27). A blind man asks Jesus for mercy through healing, when there is no way for the blind man to return the favor (Luke 18:35-43). The psalmist asks God for mercy when he is totally undeserving of God’s favors (Ps. 51:1-4). In Luke 6:36 Jesus asks the disciples to be merciful as God is merciful by loving one’s enemies, those who do not love in return.
As we deal with the young people in our lives, we need to be a people of mercy. Being a child means making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. The tendency is to jump all over a child if they make a mistake because we think that this will keep them from making more mistakes. But, if we make a child afraid of making mistakes, we will not stop them from making mistakes – what we will do is stop them from trying to do anything at all. Or we will fill them with a deep-seated anger. Or both. This is not the way of grace.
Grace can hold accountable, grace can speak the truth, grace can redirect, grace can save the relationship despite the mistake.
Who knows when our being human will mean that we will make a mistake. Will we want mercy?
Grace, mercy, and peace,
Ron
