In the last post of our Beatitude series, we talked about what it means to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The fifth Beatitude follows directly from this, saying, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Our Lord even commands us to be merciful to others, as God our Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). But what does it mean to be merciful and why is such a trait so important to possess? What are some physical and spiritual ways we can cultivate mercy in our lives? Read on to find out!
Note: Be sure to check back next week for our next post on the sixth beatitude!
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What does it mean to be merciful?
In a world full of violence, injustice, and pain, every one of us needs kindness, sympathy, and compassion. Mercy is a gift or the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). To be merciful is to be like God, for “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Ps 103:8). Blessed are the merciful, for they show this gift of mercy to others.
One who is merciful has compassion on evil-doers and sympathizes with those who are caught in the bonds of sin. Take note: this does not mean it is okay to justify falsehood and sin. Nor does mercy equate with tolerance of evil and foolishness. Rather, being merciful necessitates a refusal to condemn. The merciful person pities those who have fallen into misfortune and tries to help them through acts of charity. One who is merciful does not condemn those who do wrong against him or against another, but instead forgives those who harm and destroy. This is a tall order for many of us, but with God, all things are possible!
Ways we can be merciful to others
There are many ways we can bestow the blessing of mercy upon others. Some of these are physical works, like:
- Feeding the hungry
- Giving drink to the thirsty
- Clothing the naked
- Visiting those in prison
- Visiting the sick and tending to them
- Inviting strangers/the poor into one’s home and ministering to them
- Burying the dead
There are also spiritual ways we can be merciful. For example, we could:
- Convert sinners by our word and example (James 5:20).
- Teach the ignorant the truth and goodness of the Lord
- Give edifying and timely advice to neighbors in distress or danger
- Strengthen those whose faith is wavering
- Comfort the grieving
- Refrain from returning evil for evil
- Forgive offenses with all our heart
- Pray to God for everyone, even our enemies and those who have departed this life
There is a caveat to all this, however. In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord teaches us the proper way to go about performing these deeds. Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father Who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do…. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing… (Matt. 6:1-3). Blessed are the merciful who do deeds of kindness for God, not for praise from men.
For they shall obtain mercy
The Lord warned Cain: “…if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it “(Gen. 4:7). If we struggle successfully against our sins, we will naturally pursue that which is good, righteousness and mercy. In this beatitude, the Lord tells us those who are constantly charitable and merciful will receive mercy in return, both from God and from fellow men. Those who obtain God’s mercy will receive eternal life and escape eternal punishment for their sins, to the degree they showed mercy to others (see Matt. 25:31-46).
But let the hardhearted bear in mind that judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy (James 2:13). All around us are people who need our sympathy and compassion. They are the Lazaruses of our lives (Luke 16:14-31), who will open or close for us the gates of God’s Kingdom, depending upon how we have treated them. Blessed are the merciful who find such compassion in their hearts.
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