The Power of Mercy: A Reflection on Compassion in Action
Introduction
There is an old saying about the difference between judgment and mercy. Judgment is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get it.
Actually this only covers half the category of mercy. There are lots of situations which call for mercy upon people who are not responsible for their tragedies and catastrophes.
One the one side mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. On the other mercy is compassion and assistance to another regardless of former personal relatupionship.
It may be easy for example to be merciful to a family member who is ill. More difficult to help a stranger in distress.
For the Christian mercy begins with God. “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.” Ephesians 2:4 Then it flies out through us. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7
God’s Mercy
I wrote some regarding this in a post about justice. We see God’s mercy from the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis. God expells Adam and Eve from the Garden but makes them clothes before they leave. God spare’s Cain’s life and gives him a protective mark.
John 3:16 A verse most people know at least by name and number says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This in spite of everyone’s sin!
Lest we think we are not in need of God’s mercy remember this verse from St. Paul.
Romans 3:22 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
And again : But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.” Ephesians 2:4-5
Our call to be merciful
Christians are called to reflect God’s mercy by showing it to others in their daily lives.
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
Mercy along with forgiveness are perhaps the most difficult teachings of Jesus. They sound good, but when push comes to shove can be most difficult.
On the other hand sometimes we are called to tasks of mercy that don’t seem difficult to us although they seem difficult to others. For example I worked for several years as a hospice chaplain. Clearly it is a ministry of mercy. Yet to me and the hospice nurses it seemed easy and even a privilege.
Likewise many of my teammates and I find prison ministry to be a blessing. Watching the Holy Spirit change lives for the better far outweighs the sense of danger being behind bars.
Perhaps the most difficult and awkward challenges for mercy is found in the almost daily confrontation with beggars on street corners and parking lots. It is difficult to discern between the truly needy and the grifters. One approach is more challenging than others. Some of my friends will actually take a person to a nearby fast-food restaurant and buy a meal. The other extreme is to choose to give and think the gift is first if all between you and the Lord; then likewise to believe what the recipient dies with the gift is also between them and the Lord.
Mercy and Judgment
Mercy without judgment is weakness. Judgement without mercy can be cruel. Mercy tempers justice, leading to reconciliation and restoration rather than mere punishment.
“For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13
Conclusion
We all might be if it by seeking God’s help in growing in mercy through prayer and reflection.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
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