Jesus
said, "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." – Matthew 9:13
(He was quoting the Old Testament prophet, Hosea - Hosea 6:6).
“But
love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward
will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the
ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” –
Luke 6:35-36
The
mercy God extends to us is comprehensive. The mercy Jesus calls us to practice in response is radical. What might that look like?
Here
is something from Isaac of Ninevah (died c. 700 AD), also known as Isaac the
Syrian:
What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire
for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for
demons, and for all that exists. By the recollection of them the eyes of a
merciful person pour forth tears in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy
that grips such a person’s heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is
humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight sorrow in
any in creation. For this reason, such a person offers up tearful prayer
continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for
those who harm her or him, that they be protected and receive mercy. And in
like manner such a person prays for the family of reptiles because of the great
compassion that burns without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of
God.
The person who is genuinely charitable not only
gives charity out of his own possessions, but gladly tolerates injustice from
others and forgives them. Whoever lays down his soul for his brother acts
generously, rather than the person who demonstrates his generosity by his
gifts.
God is not One who requites evil, but who sets
evil right.
Paradise is the love of God, wherein is the
enjoyment of all blessedness.
The person who lives in love reaps the fruit of
life from God, and while yet in this world, even now breathes the air of the
resurrection.
In love did God bring the world into existence;
in love is God going to bring it to that wondrous transformed state, and in
love will the world be swallowed up in the great mystery of the One who has
performed all these things; in love will the whole course of the governance of
creation be finally comprised.
(from Glory to God in all Things)
Isaac
does not suggest the way of mercy is an easy way. Neither did Jesus.
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