November 2000

If there is a word of Scripture which expresses, like others and more than others, the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, this word is mercy.
In the magnificent and divine manifestation of Sinai, the Lord revealed to Moses: “The Lord is a merciful and gracious God… continuing his kindness for a thousand generations” (Ex. 34:6-7).
At the dawning of the messianic day, Mary announced to Elizabeth that the Almighty had remembered his mercy (cf. Lk. 1:54), and he who was conceived in her bore witness to this. Thus in Jesus, son of God and of Mary, the paternal and maternal love of God are joined together. This is clearly expressed in the two Hebrew terms used to describe mercy, that is, a profound attitude of goodness, of kindness which manifests God's faithfulness towards himself and his maternal love towards all.
But what makes mercy so powerful as to triumph over justice (cf. Lk. 1:54)?
And why does Jesus give such importance to this virtue to the point of making it a condition for personal salvation?

«Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.»

As John Paul II clearly explains, mercy is “an indispensable dimension of love; it is, as it were, love's second name”. He looks at the words of the beatitudes as a synthesis of the Good News which is the revelation of God's salvific love and the invitation to everyone to be “merciful just as the Father” (cf. Lk. 6:36) and as Jesus who is the most perfect image of the Father.

The theme of the beatitudes returns in the prayer of the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. We could say that there is a law written in heaven which condones our debts in the measure that we forgive our brothers and sisters.
The theme of mercy and pardon pervade the entire Gospel. Actually, Jesus' goal is what he revealed to us in his final prayer the night before his passion: to unite all men and women, to make all humanity one big family whose model is the Trinity. The whole of his teaching tends to give us, through his love, the tool for achieving this lofty communion among ourselves and with God. And mercy is the final expression of love, of charity, that which completes it, which makes it perfect.

«Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.»

Let us try, then, in all our relationships, to live this love towards others in the form of mercy!
Mercy is a love that welcomes every neighbor, especially the poor and needy. It is a measureless, abundant, universal, and concrete love. It is a love which prompts reciprocity, which is the ultimate end of mercy, without which there would be only justice, which serves to create equality, but not brotherhood.
There is much talk in our day of the pardon denied to those who have committed serious crimes. We ask for revenge more than for justice. But once every attempt has been made to compensate for the damage done, we must leave full range to pardon. Pardon alone is capable of healing the personal and social trauma produced by evil. “Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Lk. 6:37).
Therefore, if we have, in any way, been offended or treated unjustly, let us forgive and we will be forgiven. Let us be first in expressing kindness and compassion!
Even if it seems to be difficult and requiring great courage, let us ask ourselves, face to face with every neighbor: how would his mother act with him? This thought can help us to understand and to live in accordance with the heart of God.

Chiara Lubich