1014AFC040210
Aloha Friday for this date is also Good Friday – The Day of the Lord’s Passion. We have considered the concept of Mercy throughout Lent. I hope I have not wearied you. If, however, I have, then here you will find an experience of mercy. This will be short – I hope.
When do we need mercy, and when do we get it? We need mercy, especially God’s mercy, always; I think we need mercy from each other whenever we can see an opportunity to give it. Must mercy always be requested; does someone have to ask, plead, or beg for mercy for us to give it? I hope not! Mercy is like respect. You cannot earn respect because that makes it a commodity, something that can be bought or sold. Respect is a gift that should be freely given. If the giver offers respect and the gift is rejected, then the intended recipient fails to gain respect. So also with mercy, I think. If we intend to perform an act of mercy – as we have discussed these several weeks – and the gift of mercy is rejected, then the intended recipient fails to gain mercy. It seems to me that God’s mercy is like that – only better of course – since it is always available to us and we have only to accept it. Mercy is a grace, a virtue, and a gift.
We get mercy when we are merciful. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy?” For whom? For those to whom they show mercy? Yes, of course that happens. For themselves? Perhaps not exactly in a give-one-get-one arrangement, though. God’s mercy is always there, and perhaps in giving mercy we are able to accept His mercy. What do you think about that?
And what happens when I refuse God’s mercy, or your mercy? Does mercy fade out, go away, or become extinct? Not if mercy is a gift of grace because grace is always available for those who will accept it. So the mercy is still there; we’re just not getting a share of it. Noah’s Ark was a mercy, a gift of grace. Only a handful of people accepted that grace. The Ark was still there even as the Flood overcame the world and drowned everyone and everything not on the Ark. The Ark did not go away, but the door to the Ark was shut.
So if God offers me mercy because of his integrity, his justice, and his love shall I wait a while to see if It’s a Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall? Why wait? Even if mercy is there forever, if I need it now, why not get it now? Why procrastinate when all that I need and so much more is right there waiting for me? I don’t really have to ask for it or beg for it. I just accept it with grateful recognition that “justice is getting what I deserve (good or bad) and mercy is getting what I do not deserve (always good).”
Beloved, accept Mercy. Know that all that is good in this world comes from Him who made all things and all persons. The flow of Mercy is impossible to stop but it can be resisted.
Have a wonderful Easter Tridium. I’m sending this out from home via automated mailing so that it will arrive Thursday afternoon (or evening from those of you on the East Coast).
As a closing thought, I submit this Psalm of a Sinner for you to consider:
Psalm of a Sinner
For the People, After Psalm 22 – O My God! My God! Why have I abandoned you? Why do I fail to cry for help; why am I dwelling in my anguish? My God, I ignore you by day and turn away your answers; at night I praise you not. Yet you are the Holy One and Faithful beyond comprehension, the LORD, God of Israel. My ancestors trusted in you and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved; you never let them down. But I am a weakling, choosing instead not to listen for your voice in my darkness. All who see me see my disloyalty; they scoff at my lack of virtue. “You claim to be the LORD’S? He rescues you and blesses you and still you have abandoned him.” Truly, my God, trouble is near, within and around me, before me and behind me. Yet you have kept me safe and blessed my life. From my birth you have called me to you. I answer and move toward you, but turn away your endless offers of help. Many deceivers attract me and their invitations draw me away from you. I am torn and crushed when they exploit my foolishness. My good deeds are lifeless and flow away like sewage. Artificial goodness melts in the warmth of your love. I collapse under the weight of my sin, and look forward to returning to the earth. Like feral dogs, my enemies chase me away from the safety of your arms. I had no strength to lose because I gave it all to them. You have never been far from me, yet I reach not for your hand. You enrich me with your graces, but I gamble them away. Indeed a sword is turned against me, the dogs tear my flesh. The Adversary is growling lion, destroying my life because I persist in my ignorance. You save me hour by hour, and I acknowledge your help in public; but my home is in the shadows, my life is void of light. Blessed are they who rely on you, whose integrity is like your own; they are not spurned by you nor do they spurn each other. Their praises rise up as testimony against me. Because I have not sought you, my praise falls lifeless at my feet and seeps into nameless obscurity. All the ends of the earth have known the saving power of your love; you rule in every faithful heart, in every life that welcomes you, you establish peace. I have desecrated my vows to you. I have abandoned your law and failed to give you homage. My God! My God! Why have I abandoned you? I entreat you to bless my descendants as your servants. I resolve to worship you and return to you, to bow down before you for worship, adoration, thanksgiving, and praise because of my love for you. Let every generation learn of your generosity through my disgrace which is pardoned because of your endless mercy and everlasting salvation. Even the unborn will proclaim the power of your amazing grace and those who have perished from the earth will shout for joy in the presence of the angels.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved
…chick
After Easter, I would like to start sharing the word and works of Guest Commentators. If you have a favorite story, saying, essay, thought, reflection, anything you can share with all of the MBN, please send it to me and I will share it out to the whole MBN. Let me know. If I’ve already asked you this, you can send me something AQAHP – As Quickly As Humanly Possible.
Lenten Series on Mercy
Follow this series on Corporal Acts of Mercy
1014AFC040210
Aloha Friday for this date is also Good Friday – The Day of the Lord’s Passion. We have considered the concept of Mercy throughout Lent. I hope I have not wearied you. If, however, I have, then here you will find an experience of mercy. This will be short – I hope.
When do we need mercy, and when do we get it? We need mercy, especially God’s mercy, always; I think we need mercy from each other whenever we can see an opportunity to give it. Must mercy always be requested; does someone have to ask, plead, or beg for mercy for us to give it? I hope not! Mercy is like respect. You cannot earn respect because that makes it a commodity, something that can be bought or sold. Respect is a gift that should be freely given. If the giver offers respect and the gift is rejected, then the intended recipient fails to gain respect. So also with mercy, I think. If we intend to perform an act of mercy – as we have discussed these several weeks – and the gift of mercy is rejected, then the intended recipient fails to gain mercy. It seems to me that God’s mercy is like that – only better of course – since it is always available to us and we have only to accept it. Mercy is a grace, a virtue, and a gift.
We get mercy when we are merciful. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy?” For whom? For those to whom they show mercy? Yes, of course that happens. For themselves? Perhaps not exactly in a give-one-get-one arrangement, though. God’s mercy is always there, and perhaps in giving mercy we are able to accept His mercy. What do you think about that?
And what happens when I refuse God’s mercy, or your mercy? Does mercy fade out, go away, or become extinct? Not if mercy is a gift of grace because grace is always available for those who will accept it. So the mercy is still there; we’re just not getting a share of it. Noah’s Ark was a mercy, a gift of grace. Only a handful of people accepted that grace. The Ark was still there even as the Flood overcame the world and drowned everyone and everything not on the Ark. The Ark did not go away, but the door to the Ark was shut.
So if God offers me mercy because of his integrity, his justice, and his love shall I wait a while to see if It’s a Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall? Why wait? Even if mercy is there forever, if I need it now, why not get it now? Why procrastinate when all that I need and so much more is right there waiting for me? I don’t really have to ask for it or beg for it. I just accept it with grateful recognition that “justice is getting what I deserve (good or bad) and mercy is getting what I do not deserve (always good).”
Beloved, accept Mercy. Know that all that is good in this world comes from Him who made all things and all persons. The flow of Mercy is impossible to stop but it can be resisted.
Have a wonderful Easter Tridium. I’m sending this out from home via automated mailing so that it will arrive Thursday afternoon (or evening from those of you on the East Coast).
As a closing thought, I submit this Psalm of a Sinner for you to consider:
Psalm of a Sinner
For the People, After Psalm 22 – O My God! My God! Why have I abandoned you? Why do I fail to cry for help; why am I dwelling in my anguish? My God, I ignore you by day and turn away your answers; at night I praise you not. Yet you are the Holy One and Faithful beyond comprehension, the LORD, God of Israel. My ancestors trusted in you and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved; you never let them down. But I am a weakling, choosing instead not to listen for your voice in my darkness. All who see me see my disloyalty; they scoff at my lack of virtue. “You claim to be the LORD’S? He rescues you and blesses you and still you have abandoned him.” Truly, my God, trouble is near, within and around me, before me and behind me. Yet you have kept me safe and blessed my life. From my birth you have called me to you. I answer and move toward you, but turn away your endless offers of help. Many deceivers attract me and their invitations draw me away from you. I am torn and crushed when they exploit my foolishness. My good deeds are lifeless and flow away like sewage. Artificial goodness melts in the warmth of your love. I collapse under the weight of my sin, and look forward to returning to the earth. Like feral dogs, my enemies chase me away from the safety of your arms. I had no strength to lose because I gave it all to them. You have never been far from me, yet I reach not for your hand. You enrich me with your graces, but I gamble them away. Indeed a sword is turned against me, the dogs tear my flesh. The Adversary is growling lion, destroying my life because I persist in my ignorance. You save me hour by hour, and I acknowledge your help in public; but my home is in the shadows, my life is void of light. Blessed are they who rely on you, whose integrity is like your own; they are not spurned by you nor do they spurn each other. Their praises rise up as testimony against me. Because I have not sought you, my praise falls lifeless at my feet and seeps into nameless obscurity. All the ends of the earth have known the saving power of your love; you rule in every faithful heart, in every life that welcomes you, you establish peace. I have desecrated my vows to you. I have abandoned your law and failed to give you homage. My God! My God! Why have I abandoned you? I entreat you to bless my descendants as your servants. I resolve to worship you and return to you, to bow down before you for worship, adoration, thanksgiving, and praise because of my love for you. Let every generation learn of your generosity through my disgrace which is pardoned because of your endless mercy and everlasting salvation. Even the unborn will proclaim the power of your amazing grace and those who have perished from the earth will shout for joy in the presence of the angels.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved
…chick
After Easter, I would like to start sharing the word and works of Guest Commentators. If you have a favorite story, saying, essay, thought, reflection, anything you can share with all of the MBN, please send it to me and I will share it out to the whole MBN. Let me know. If I’ve already asked you this, you can send me something AQAHP – As Quickly As Humanly Possible.
Lenten Series on Mercy
Follow this series on Corporal Acts of Mercy
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
