Jesus said – Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Jesus is saying there is a certain “blessedness” or “happiness” in showing mercy. Mercy has several components – almsgiving or relieving the poor – giving to those in need and forgiveness – extending mercy to those who deserve punishment.
I am a recipient of both pictures of mercy – I have been in need and God has graciously provided – often through the generosity or mercy of others. I know that I also am one who deserves God’s judgment but I have received mercy through Jesus.
But my receipt of mercy seems somehow tied to my extending mercy. Jesus doesn’t seem to be talking about random acts of mercy but rather a state of being – I am to be merciful as a matter of course – a way of life. I am to be by nature a generous, forgiving person. The only way that can happen is if I have help from outside myself because I am not by nature merciful but self-centered and self-serving.
Jesus on the other hand is merciful and if He dwells in me then His mercy is expressed through me to those around me. Anyone can do random acts of mercy but only Jesus can make us merciful at our core. It is a part of what it means to be a disciple.
The text for Sunday is about being merciful – really, it is about being disciples who have a positive impact on others because they have become merciful because of Christ.
