Thought of the Day February 13, 2019 Plunge into the ocean of mercy
Plunge into the ocean of mercy
Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are
the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew gives us the command of
Jesus. Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. Jesus
gives us the reason for us to be merciful.
What is mercy? First, we need to see it from God’s
perspective to better understand what God is saying to us. There are two main
terms used in the scriptures for mercy: hesed
and rahamim. The first expresses God’s unfailing fidelity to his covenant
relationship with the people of Israel. It is based on his everlasting love,
namely on who he is. The second is more graphic. Literally, it means from the
bowels of God or mercy that is from deep within. That is why the prophets talk
about God’s love for his people is like that of a mother for the child she bore
in her womb. This love was expressed by Isaiah thus: “Can
a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget, I will never forget you” (Is 49:15).
Hosea, the prophet, expresses this tender
love of God for his people in words of gratuitous and forgiveness. As a father
loves a son, so God said to Israel: “When Israel was a child I loved him; out
of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from
me... Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew
them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises
an infant to his cheeks... I stooped to feed my child” (Hos 11:1-4).
Reflect on God's mercy which you have received many times over. (To be continued)
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