Mercy!

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy." --Matthew 5:7

Flowing out of our examination of Jesus' beatitudes was the desire to examine this blessing (and a couple of others) more closely. When I asked class members what "mercy" means, this is what our discussion produced:
1) "To willingly spare somebody of guilt."
2) An act of forgiveness
3) To show kindness and compassion to someone in need.

--The first definition indicates the lifting of a burden; not letting someone's wrongdoing completely define how you see another person or relate to them.
--The second definition is clearly related to the first one. The "giveness" in "forgiveness" lets us know that we are gifting the other person and that the gift is the very best of ourselves.
--The third definition is not related to guilt or wrongdoing. Rather, it is about recognition and action, moving towards someone in their need. Com-passion means to be with ("com") someone in their suffering ("passion"). Here, mercy is an expression of solidarity. We risk hurting in order to be fully present with somebody who hurts.
Blessed are the mercy-givers, for they will be mercied.

When class members paired off to discuss experiences they have had of receiving mercy and offering it, they struggled to identify examples, and our attitudes about giving mercy seemed connected to our ideas of charity.
Elders and Deacons, how might we develop a "Mercy Workshop" at St. Andrew's that will help our young people--and us!--explore the meaning and sharing of mercy at deep levels?
How is God's mercy related to our practice of mercy?
How will mercy be more than a task we do, but rather an expression of who we are?
When have you been mercied? Do you have a story to share with our youth?

Other questions of blessing arose that we discussed:
a) What does it mean to be "pure in heart?" ( Is that possible?)
b) What is meekness, and how can the meek "inherit the earth?"

We identified purity of heart as being:
--authentic
--genuine
--honest
--forthcoming
--confessional.
Someone who is "pure in heart" willingly admits when he or she has been wrong, is not reluctant to apologize, and recognizes that they have much to learn. They are willing to listen.
One of the confirmands described this quality as "priceless." It is not perfection, but it is precious. Everyone can be authentic!

We described meekness as nonviolence, sensitivity, gentleness with others. When we see this in Jesus it is quite assertive. "Inheriting the earth" is a restatement of God's promise, and an answer to our prayer that God's kingdom come "on earth as it is in heaven." Those who live in the manner of Jesus will live into the future God is preparing for the world that God so loves. We are invested in the fulfillment of God's plan when we live like Jesus. This involves receiving gratefully what God bestows, practicing good stewardship by appreciating and dedicating God's gifts, and living generously, giving as we have received.
The meekness of Jesus contrasts deeply with lives that are heavily armed, encourage hoarding, and seek to selfishly coerce others. God is unarmed, practices generosity in all circumstances, and never manipulates people. God is merciful, authentic, and undefended.

Fortunate Are You!

"Fortunate are we when we know the poverty of our spirit;

then we glimpse God.

Fortunate are we when we mourn the brokenness in ourselves and in our world;

then we find comfort.

Fortunate are we when we are vulnerably gentle;

then the earth is our inheritance.

Fortunate are we when we hunger and thirst for justice,

for then we are satisfied.

Fortunate are we when we show mercy;

then mercy will be shown to us.

Fortunate are we when we are being authentic;

then we will see the God who is real.

Fortunate are we when we are making peace;

then we are being God's family.

Fortunate are we when we are being ridiculed and hurt for speaking loudly and doing the truth;

then we are walking in the footseps of the prophets.

When such is our being, then we are salt to preserve the earth. Then we are being light for a world groping to find its way."

What you just read is Peter Ediger's translation of Jesus' beatitudes, which we listened to together in Sunday's service. Go back and read Matthew 5:1-14, and compare the messages.

The version above substitutes "Fortunate" for "Blessed." The Greek word in the original New Testament can be translated "blessed," "fortunate," or "happy." This version also substitutes "we" for "those," making it more personal.

Go through each beatitude. How does each one apply to your life? How fortunate are you?

Be specific!

What kind of people is Jesus "teaching" us to be?

In what ways are we at St. Andrew's being "light" for our world? Or "salt?"