Thought of the Day February 19, 2019 Jesus on mercy
What does Jesus teach us about mercy?
Jesus=
best teaching on the mercy of the Father is reflected in the lives of three
fictional but relatable individuals in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. While
the characters are totally human, the message expressed in the actions of the
forgiving father are a reflective glimpse of the infinite mercy of God. In the father of the parable, love overcomes
separation, rejection and all denial of the younger son=s true identity; mercy
overshadows human justice and unrighteous anger demanded by the older son. In
all Athe father...is faithful
to his fatherhood, faithful to his love for his son."
In the prodigal son, folly squandered material goods
and unworthiness and guilt replace
self-importance and past dreams; the reality of sin revealed his humiliation,
seen in his resigned willingness to
embrace the life of a hired servant. In
the older brother, resentment blinded judgement; anger denied relationship to
the father and to the brother; rejection of his father=s decision alienated him
from the family=s
joyful celebration. While the father saw the son=s
return in terms of resurrection and new life, the older brother would have
preferred him to remain dead and forgotten. He wanted strict, unrelenting
justice, swift and final.
Mercy is one of expressions of love. Justice is that
which is due a person either by right or because the person earned it. Mercy is
that which goes beyond justice. No one has a right to Mercy nor is it an earned
reward. Mercy is a pure gift; lavishly
poured out because of another=s
bounteous love.
How have you experienced the mercy of God? (To be continued)
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