The Quality Not Strained

What did the Galilean mean when he mentioned mercy? He thought highly of it, for he did say: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7, NIV)

We don’t dwell on it much these days. Many feel it is more blessed to be rich than merciful, better to win than show mercy, and better to exact revenge than forgiveness. But it is right there in one of the most prominent places in all of Christianity, the Sermon on the Mount. A trait can’t get a better endorsement than to star in The Beatitudes.

The Galilean thought highly of the trait of mercy. Why don’t so many of us?

It was a cruel and violent age during which this most famous sermon took place. Wars, conquests, crucifixions, gladiatorial spectacles, and slavery occurred without a thought of their inherent cruelty. A look at the morning news might indicate that we are headed more toward, as a society, this state than away from it. That’s why it might be important to look closely at this state of mercy.

Oddly, to show mercy, one needs to be in a position to be unmerciful. It is dissimilar to, say, the quality of love, in which the more we give, the more there is to give. Mercy means being patient with people's weaknesses, differences, shortcomings and quirks.

It is dissimilar to sacrifice, in which one might suffer in order to provide solace to another, for example when a homeless man gives his coat to another on a frigid night. Mercy means doing good to those who hurt, offend, or torment you.

 It is dissimilar to a mandate, in which one provides mercy as an exaction, say by paying taxes. Mercy means personally helping someone you know who is hurting, even though they bear no resemblance to you physically, spiritually, nationally, or socially.

It is dissimilar to reparations or judgements. Mercy means reaching out to those whom we don’t love, or those who are the most difficult to love.

It requires a direct manifestation. One doesn’t show mercy, for example, by tossing coins in a holiday pot. That shows kindness and goodness maybe, but not mercy. It requires a face-to-face transaction for which, the Galilean asserts, one will receive it back in the future.

Is it any wonder that we see it in practice so seldom, this trait of mercy? Wouldn’t it be nice to see it roll into America from the highest halls and offices? Maybe, just maybe, justice would roll along with it. That might make the Galilean happy.

"The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice Act IV Scene I

Q

Have mercy ...

Theology Time for the week. Oh dear. I’m still stuck on the Beatitudes, primarily as recorded by the Gospel writer Matthew as being a part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is a little-known segment of the Christian New Testament, largely redacted by the fundamentalist segment of our country—the so-called Evangelicals. To many “hard-shells,” the ten “blessings” seem more of an embarrassment than a directive or mandate. We’re stuck with them, though, at least until the new Bibles come out.

Certainly, our target this week would be an insult to the likes of Franklin Graham, the latest self-appointed prophet of propriety. It does appear that the fifth of the Beatitudes represents a case in which the Galilean stops preaching and starts meddling. Without any apparent embarrassment, he announces, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Can’t one just hear the “Out of Context Crowd” clamoring for the microphone?

Merciful? Oh my goodness. What in the world was he talking about? It doesn’t appear to be a typo, for it agrees with another directive later in the same document, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36).

Merciful? Who needs it in a world moved to such a degree by raw hatred of others? Who needs it in a country led by person who begins each day with digitally transmitted scorn and vitriol published against those who disagree with him in the slightest?

Merciful? Who needs it in a world where so many condone murderous executions because of the physiological makeup of a specific persons, amidst the tacit approval of so many in our own country?

Merciful? I struggle with the concept when I hear people around me promote the persecution and demeaning of those the Galilean called his beloved.

Merciful? How does one explain the concept to young children in a country that builds aircraft carrier after aircraft carrier while healthcare clinics in its rural areas go broke for lack of funding? (We might come back to this one later.)

Merciful? How do you explain mercy to a young child of five who has just been told, and implanted with a primal fear, that a loving old man in the sky will send their precious bodies to an everlasting pit of fire for the slightest mishap?

There are those who say, “Oh, we’re fulfilling the ‘merciful’ stricture when we point out to sinners their shortcomings and admonish them for their evil ways.” They add, “Oh, it is also quite merciful to instruct the uninformed. What better example of mercy than to interrupt their sinful, albeit peaceful, ignorance and let them know about the everlasting pit of fire? Now that’s what you call real mercy.”

The Galilean tells me that he’s not sure about all of this. People seem to be putting themselves in the position of determining what constitutes a sin. He thinks they are limiting themselves to the whole concept of mercy as he sees it, which is to provide succor to those the world deems “the least,” not the “most.”

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I don’t really talk to the Galilean. Nor does Franklin Graham. I just read the words he is reported as having said.

I don’t think many others do. Shall we be merciful to them by pointing out the errors of their ways?

Heck, I guess we’ll have to.

I need to talk to that man.