|
The Christian Character: Merciful (5) Matthew 5: 1 – 11; Matthew 25: 31 - 46 Portia disguised as a young lawyer in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice tries to persuade Shylock to be merciful to the merchant, Antonia. Antonia has borrowed money from Shylock and cannot repay the loan, now he must pay the forfeit – a pound (0.445 kg) of his flesh. Shylock demands justice a pound of flesh. Portia speaks: The quality of mercy is not strain’d It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself, And earthly power doth them show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy, And the same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there. [Act iv, Scn 1:Ln 184] Portia wants to save Antonia, her fiancé and Shylock, because if justice is carried out Antonia will die and Shylock condemned for murder. But Shylock’s hatred and demand for justice blinds him to this reality. Shakespeare juxtaposes mercy and justice so eloquently. We are looking at the 5th Beatitude: 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. What the scholars tell us about mercy Shakespeare has brilliantly captured in The Merchant of Venice – It is an attribute to God himself, When mercy seasons justice we are like God. Mercy blesses him who gives and him who takes. … in the course of justice none of us should see salvation. the same prayer doth teach us all to render … mercy We talk of justice so easily without ever recognising that the Bible seldom if ever speaks of justice without reference to mercy or righteousness. Justice is never ministered by God without mercy, and neither are we to minister justice without mercy. Mercy is at the heart of the Gospel. If we were to receive justice from God we would not stand before God who is holy, because which person can make themselves holy. Without mercy we would be condemned as sinners. Justice is the last thing I want from God; I seek mercy. And from my fellow humans I desire more than justice: I seek their mercy. For my life is fallible. Without mercy justice becomes another way of punishment. And what would our relationships be like if we were more merciful, and how would our society look? Moses discovers in his conversations with God that mercy is an attribute of God. God says to Moses I will show mercy to whom I please [Exodus 33: 19]. And if mercy is an attribute of God then God’s followers are to be merciful, because mercy in the believer shows that we are acting like God. The prophet says the same when he understands God to say; Mic 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with your God? Mercy is the continuous theme of God’s action in the world. Justice is not justice without mercy. There is the story of the woman seeking Emperor Napoleon’s pardon for her son. The emperor said it was the man’s second offence, and justice demanded death. The mother replied, “I don’t ask for justice, I plead for mercy.” But, replied the Emperor, he doesn’t deserve mercy. The woman cried, “Sir it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all that I ask.” Well then, said the Emperor, I will have mercy. And her son was saved. Mercy is one of the golden words of the Bible. Jesus in the two parables he uses to speak about judgement he uses mercy as the yardstick. In the story of the sheep and goats it is on the grounds of mercy or the lack of it respectively that the sheep and goats are separated. Jesus’ main condemnation of the Pharisees is that they shifted main emphasis of religion to formal behaviour and away from mercy [Matthew 23:23]. Mercy is so foundational to life that it decides our ultimate destiny. The Hebrew and Greek words that are translated by the English word “mercy” are rich words. They carry these meanings: Mercy is an attitude of kindliness, and empathy for the needy. Mercy is the spirit of loyalty to the relationship between God and humans and to other humans, it is the spirit of forgiveness given and received. Mercy arises out of a heart that is humble, those who know their own helplessness, those who understand the nature of sin, and those who hunger and thirst for the goodness of God. So I tell you a story concerning Queen Philippa wife of Edward III who exemplifies humility, empathy and mercy. Edward married her in 1328. Queen’s College, Oxford was named after her. And she was noted for her kindliness and compassion as this account suggests in Calais 1346. Food was getting very low and water had almost run out, when, after nearly a year, Edward III forced Calais to surrender. The townspeople pleaded for their lives, but Edward was angry with their stubborn resistance. There had been bitter fighting and many Englishman had died at the hands of the French. The King told the citizens that he would spare their lives if they would hand over to him six of their town council – six burghers – who would be executed on behalf of the rest. One of the six burghers threw himself at Edward’s feet and pleaded for their lives, but the King would not listen. One of the English knights pleaded with Edward; but he took no notice. Queen Phillipa, who had been sitting at the King’s side, got up and knelt before. She begged by his love for her and Christ to forgive. Edward said, Lady, your pleas would melt the heart of stone. Though it is not my will, I will put their lives in your hands. Taking the rope, which was round the neck of the nearest burgher, he handed it to the Queen. Phillipa thanked the King for his mercy and released the prisoners. Jesus said, happy are the merciful for they will find mercy. Jesus made mercy his standard for goodness and inclusion. Jesus is God’s ultimate act of mercy to the world. ******* Peter C Whitaker, BUC: 31/08/2008
|
|
CLICK TO EMAIL ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO : pgwhitaker@netspace.net.au |