8. Mercy
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Obtaining mercy is a promised blessing for the merciful. Jesus gives this promise so that His disciples would not withhold mercy for any reason; one cannot give away mercy and lose it for it will always return in abundance. Mercy is not a limited commodity in that there is only so much to go around: the more we give mercy the more it expands and grows. Mercy multiplies.
Some people are afraid that if they show too much mercy the guilty person will think he got away with it and so will do it again. These people are afraid that mercy will become license; the sinner will take advantage of mercy and not attempt to change. They are afraid that the merciful are the weak and the meek, the poor and the lowly, but Jesus gives assurance that it is just those kinds of people who will obtain much mercy for themselves. It is always harder to believe that mercy actually has more power to change behavior than judgment and punishment. This promise is given precisely because it is hard to believe; it is a truth to be believed contrary to human reason and assumption. Trust the power of mercy and unconditional love to change lives: the Gospel works.
We are beggars; it is true. We are also donors; that is also true. We beg for mercy; we receive mercy; we extend mercy; we beg…receive…extend in a growing circle until a wonderful life is built on the mercy of God obtained and given away. Without mercy life would stop, but with mercy life expands and grows and covers all.