Happy are the Merciful (Matthew 5:7)

1. Justice with Mercy

A passion for justice must be balanced with a delight in mercy. Jesus also said that the merciful are blessed. Some may say that a guilty person deserves only justice and not mercy. But mercy is by definition undeserved. Justice without mercy can become mere vengeance. To demand justice without mercy would see us all condemned forever without reprieve. It is only in God's mercy that we have any hope.

Some naive people say that the poor deserve to be poor, because they caused it either by laziness or some other sin. First of all, that's not true. While some people certainly are poor because of their own sins, many are poor because of the sins of others, often the sins of wealthy and powerful individuals. Even in cases where it is the fault of the poverty-stricken person, merciful people seek to relieve suffering without casting blame. Mercy is something that is often given to the guilty in court. So if people caused their own suffering, it is a reason for mercy, not a reason for hard-heartedness. Christianity's uniqueness among world religions is the revelation of God's mercy in Jesus Christ.

2. Mercy, Front Page News

Jesus places mercy square on the front page of his teachings, by saying blessed are the merciful. Why? What's so special about mercy, that it should be a component of his kingdom? Mercy is so important that Jesus named judgment, mercy and faith among the most important lessons from the Old Testament law (Matthew 23:23).

Callous cruelty and a brutal lack of mercy are well-known components of politics, business and even some religions. The opposite, mercy and compassion, are hard to find on the nightly news. How often does sympathy find its way into the headlines? When has mercy made the front page? Jesus not only placed mercy on the front page, but said that those who are merciful are abundantly happy.

3. Mercy in Action

We can choose to be merciful or calloused. We can block our ears to the suffering all around us, and pamper ourselves in materialistic pursuits and the selfish quest for more power. Mercy is not a mere sentiment, but expresses itself in action. Acts of mercy could include feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the poor, enduring wrongs patiently, forgiving offenses and comforting the distressed. We cannot have true pity upon the destitute if we just pass by. The Good Samaritan is so called because he did not just pass by, but stopped to help.

In today's world, mercy is often looked upon as a weakness as some big companies callously destroy small family businesses and oppresses powerless employees. Yet, Jesus celebrated mercy in the context of ancient Greek and Roman cultures which also detested pity. He dared to say that those who are merciful are abundantly happy.