The Challenge of Mercy

Pope Francis has declared this as the year of mercy, and up until now plenty of reflections have been preached and published on mercy. Perhaps each of us too have made our own reflection on the theme of mercy. Since the inauguration of the year, my mind has often reverted to this theme. Every night when I make an examination of conscience, I evaluate myself: my thoughts, words and deeds vis-à-vis mercy. I realize that I am not merciful most of the time and that I resort to do what benefits me over the merciful thing.

Pope Francis realized that the Church needed to revisit the theme of mercy; to reflect upon it and put it into practice. Mercy is at the heart of the Gospel. Jesus is the personified revelator of the Father’s mercy. Through his words and deeds he suffused the scent of mercy. His teachings on mercy are appreciated and continue to inspire people even today. The Church itself was founded on mercy: Christ became the expiation for our sins (1 Jn 4:10; Heb 2:17). He forgave his transgressors and those who came to him with contrition and faith. Unfortunately over time, the Church moved from mercy to law and ended up becoming legalistic and rigid. Mercy was gradually demoted to the background. Sadly, till this very day, we carry vestiges of this legalistic and pharisaic attitude within us. Mercy is restricted to moments of penitence in the Mass, the sacrament of reconciliation and rare works of charity. We unconsciously believe that we deserve mercy but are sometimes blind to the fact that others are too! We expect to be shown mercy but fail to be merciful.

Pope Francis invites us in this year of Mercy, to get back to the core of our faith: The Father’s love and mercy towards us. The theme of this year: ‘Merciful like the Father’, reminds and challenges us to be merciful because we are shown mercy first. The Father is presented as our model. His mercy is the ideal. But what does this mercy consist of?

1. The Father’s Mercy is Gratuitous. The questions of whether one is deserving or undeserving, worthy or unworthy to receive this mercy never arise. The Father’s mercy flows freely like a river. It doesn’t count the cost. It is an unending giving that doesn’t look for reciprocation. This kind of mercy is well depicted in the parable of the lost son.

2. The Father’s Mercy is Outgoing. This flows from the previous point. It doesn’t wait to be implored. It involves an initiative on the part of the Father who goes out with mercy to receive His erring children. This mercy doesn’t want to know the story first and come second, rather it comes first and asks questions later. It is all-embracing and leaves no one out. It is not rigid but is open to extend over various situations and circumstances.

3. The Father’s Mercy is Abundant. Everything about the Father speaks of plenitude. He doesn’t give just what is needed or what we deserve. He gives so much more than that. When the multitudes who were following Jesus had nothing to eat, he provided them with enough to content them even though there was little to start of with, and yet seven and twelve baskets remained (Mt 14:13-21; ). This gives us a fair idea about the abundance of God.  

4. The Father’s Mercy is Selfless. He, like any good parent puts His children and their wellbeing before His own. He gives His children what is best for them, whether they are grateful or not. The attitude of the children doesn’t change His attitude towards them. Whether they are in the mire or on a pedestal, He loves them the same because they are His children. His mercy is self-emptying.  St Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians, “For your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).

5. The Father’s Mercy is Impartial. To the Father, every human being is His child and hence He treats all equally. His love and His mercy are impartial, “For he makes the sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Mt 5:45). He shows no special favour or regard for those who stay close to Him. Anything they receive over and above what He gives to all is a reward for their faith and surrender.

6. The Father’s Mercy is Uplifting. Every instance of Jesus showing mercy reveals this aspect of the Father’s mercy. God’s action essentially is uplifting. It lifts us up to a higher level. The experience of the Father’s mercy doesn’t allow us to continue living the way we used to. Mediocrity and complacency are strangled. Recall Zacchaeus. He was despised and outcasted. Jesus looked at him with mercy and Zacchaeus responded with a stunning conversion (Lk 19:1-9). In the parable of the prodigal son, the Father has mercy on his wayward son and lifts him up beyond his own expectations. He hoped to at least become a servant but the Father restored him to his former state (Lk 15:18-24). God’s mercy pulls us out from the muck we’ve got ourselves into and restores us to our original identity as His beloved children.

These aspects of the Father’s mercy can serve as ideals in this year of mercy. Practicing them will not only ensure a fruitful living out of the jubilee year but will also aid us on our quest in the spiritual life. They can be taken up as challenges to be lived through this year. Mercy is not a mere act but a way of life. The above points illustrate that. The Father’s mercy towards us is a daily experience; our lives of mercy ought to be a witness to that. Jesus encourages us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). With Jesus as our model, let us progress through this jubilee year as witnesses and vessels of mercy, making the Father’s mercy tangible through our lives.