To all we encounter, be men and women of mercy

By REV. JOHN P. CUSH- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

In Sunday’s Gospel, taken from that of the Evangelist Saint Luke, we can see the radicality of the New Testament and, most especially, of the Lord Jesus’ message of mercy. Just listen to what he has to say concerning relations between persons:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your
tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Think about what these words, all too familiar to us as contemporary Christians, must have meant to those men and women in the crowds, hearing this for the first time. It is Jesus, he who is called by many the Christ, directly contradicting both Jewish and Roman law and, not only that, but the lived common experience of every other nation as in the Code of Hammurabi.

In the Old Testament book of Exodus 21:23-27, we read of the concept of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” This was a concept of retributive justice. These ideas can also be found in other parts of the Pentateuch, like the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Whether or not this phrase actually meant that the offended party had to physically maim another person is certainly doubtful as the years progressed and interpretations changed, but the fact remains that there is present a “measure-for-measure” concept of justice in this culture. The Romans held to a similar idea, while allowing financial restitution instead of physical harm. Therefore, when the Lord offers these words of “turning the other cheek” or “give to everyone who asks of you,” he must have sounded quite mad to many of his listeners.

Jesus’ message is expressing who he is and what he does. He is the incarnation, the taking on of human flesh, of God. The essence of God is Love. And Love concretely manifested is mercy. And mercy correctly applied is justice.

We as Christians are called to act as men and women who are “like unto God” and to do so is to love. We who bear the name of Christian are called to recognize the fact that you and I (and indeed, every single human being) is created in the image and likeness of God and, despite the presence of original sin (which is washed away in baptism) and actual personal sin (from which we can be cleansed in the sacrament of penance), we never lose that fundamental goodness. Created by God out of love, it is necessary for us to express that love to all whom we encounter by being men and women of mercy.
As we know, mercy is not in contradiction to justice. But justice for the Christian is not mere vengeance. Christ, who is the Divine Mercy himself, has set the scales once again in balance. With his arms open wide in an embrace of love for us on the cross, the Christ has once again restored us to true justice. We have in him not an avenger, but a prince of peace, mercy and justice. Pray this week that we might imitate him in all we say and do.