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.