I have been reading some things about mercy from Pope Francis. This is a major theme of his theology and his pastoral ministry. I am interested in him, partly because he is Pope and partly because his is a Jesuit. I am doing some comparative study on the Jesuits and Quakers. As a lifelong Quaker, I know a great deal more about my own gang. On the surface of it, it would be easy to conclude Jesuits and Quakers have little in common. After all, the Jesuits have historically seen themselves as soldiers of God, an image Quaker pacifists would not embrace. But there actually are some interesting commonalities between the two groups of Christians.
One of the themes in common is the idea of mercy. Even though it is a favorite theme for Francis, it is not just his emphasis. Mercy has been around within spiritual traditions from a very old time. It certainly is not the creation of Christianity. One only has to spend a little time in the Hebrew Bible---the Old Testament---to see how important the mercy theme is. Typically, mercy balances the other major theme, namely, justice. It is always legitimate to ask for justice. But we often really hope for mercy. While justice is always a legitimate expectation, mercy is usually an unexpected gift. Normally, we do not deserve mercy.
Mercy functions much like grace. I suspect the idea of grace occurs more frequently in the New Testament, but I have not done an actual study to prove that. But the Apostle Paul so often talks about “grace,” I suspect this makes grace feel more important than mercy. But I suggest we keep both in a similar vein. Both mercy and grace are gifts ameliorate our past and carry an expectation we do better in our future.
As we ponder mercy, we can do well to note the words Pope Francis shared with young people at the World Youth Day on July, 29, 2016. The Pope shares a line that gives us the words for the title of this inspirational piece. He says, "Knowing your enthusiasm for mission, I repeat: mercy always has a youthful face!” I like the idea that mercy has a youthful face. I can make some guesses why Francis thinks this is true, but let’s look a little further into his own words.
He says mercy has a youthful face “Because a merciful heart is motivated to move beyond its comfort zone.” I think the Pope has given us a reason why people may not be too willing to be merciful. Most of us prefer our own comfort zones. But mercy is motivated to leave this zone. As the Pope says, “A merciful heart can go out and meet others; it is ready to embrace everyone. I like the idea that a merciful heart is ready to embrace everyone. And it is important to see how inclusive Francis is. He does not say to embrace; he says to embrace everyone. Justice cannot do this; mercy must do it.
In keeping with the kind of thinking I have come to associate with Francis, I am not surprised to hear him now claim, “A merciful heart is able to be a place of refuge for those who are without a home or have lost their home; it is able to build a home and a family for those forced to emigrate; it knows the meaning of tenderness and compassion.” We can learn a great deal from this Argentinian Jesuit. A merciful heart offers refuge, tenderness and compassion. How different this sounds from the political noise of our world!
But the Pope is not finished. He continues, “A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants.” This kind of thinking parallels the kind of thinking I see from my own Quaker group in this country. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (the old religious lobby in the country) continues to be a prophetic voice not only among Quakers, but from the middle of our capital city of Washington, DC. We have to do better as a nation. To do better is to learn the lesson of mercy.
Pope Francis can be our teacher. Let’s listen to more of his teaching. “To say the word 'mercy' along with you is to speak of opportunity, future, commitment, trust, openness, hospitality, compassion and dreams.” This is really a dream. And in that vein the Pope ask,
“But are you able to dream?” I hope so. Our future depends on this kind of merciful dreaming.
Pope Francis nails it. “When the heart is open and able to dream, there is room for mercy, there is room to caress those who suffer, there is room to draw close to those who have no peace of heart or who do not have the bare necessities to live, or who do not have the most beautiful thing of all: the faith.” This is a recipe for a different way of being spiritual and being the country we want to be. But we have to translate the recipe into a way of life with action.
It is action and a way of life grounded in a divine quality. “Mercy,” says the Pope. “Let us together repeat this word: mercy. All of you!” I am satisfied. Quakers could not have said it better. It would be easy to find Quaker luminaries of the past and, even, in the present to talk similarly. But words are easy. Finally, it is a call to action. It is a call to present a different face to the world.
It is a youthful face. Mercy has a youthful face. Come on kids!
One of the themes in common is the idea of mercy. Even though it is a favorite theme for Francis, it is not just his emphasis. Mercy has been around within spiritual traditions from a very old time. It certainly is not the creation of Christianity. One only has to spend a little time in the Hebrew Bible---the Old Testament---to see how important the mercy theme is. Typically, mercy balances the other major theme, namely, justice. It is always legitimate to ask for justice. But we often really hope for mercy. While justice is always a legitimate expectation, mercy is usually an unexpected gift. Normally, we do not deserve mercy.
Mercy functions much like grace. I suspect the idea of grace occurs more frequently in the New Testament, but I have not done an actual study to prove that. But the Apostle Paul so often talks about “grace,” I suspect this makes grace feel more important than mercy. But I suggest we keep both in a similar vein. Both mercy and grace are gifts ameliorate our past and carry an expectation we do better in our future.
As we ponder mercy, we can do well to note the words Pope Francis shared with young people at the World Youth Day on July, 29, 2016. The Pope shares a line that gives us the words for the title of this inspirational piece. He says, "Knowing your enthusiasm for mission, I repeat: mercy always has a youthful face!” I like the idea that mercy has a youthful face. I can make some guesses why Francis thinks this is true, but let’s look a little further into his own words.
He says mercy has a youthful face “Because a merciful heart is motivated to move beyond its comfort zone.” I think the Pope has given us a reason why people may not be too willing to be merciful. Most of us prefer our own comfort zones. But mercy is motivated to leave this zone. As the Pope says, “A merciful heart can go out and meet others; it is ready to embrace everyone. I like the idea that a merciful heart is ready to embrace everyone. And it is important to see how inclusive Francis is. He does not say to embrace; he says to embrace everyone. Justice cannot do this; mercy must do it.
In keeping with the kind of thinking I have come to associate with Francis, I am not surprised to hear him now claim, “A merciful heart is able to be a place of refuge for those who are without a home or have lost their home; it is able to build a home and a family for those forced to emigrate; it knows the meaning of tenderness and compassion.” We can learn a great deal from this Argentinian Jesuit. A merciful heart offers refuge, tenderness and compassion. How different this sounds from the political noise of our world!
But the Pope is not finished. He continues, “A merciful heart can share its bread with the hungry and welcome refugees and migrants.” This kind of thinking parallels the kind of thinking I see from my own Quaker group in this country. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (the old religious lobby in the country) continues to be a prophetic voice not only among Quakers, but from the middle of our capital city of Washington, DC. We have to do better as a nation. To do better is to learn the lesson of mercy.
Pope Francis can be our teacher. Let’s listen to more of his teaching. “To say the word 'mercy' along with you is to speak of opportunity, future, commitment, trust, openness, hospitality, compassion and dreams.” This is really a dream. And in that vein the Pope ask,
“But are you able to dream?” I hope so. Our future depends on this kind of merciful dreaming.
Pope Francis nails it. “When the heart is open and able to dream, there is room for mercy, there is room to caress those who suffer, there is room to draw close to those who have no peace of heart or who do not have the bare necessities to live, or who do not have the most beautiful thing of all: the faith.” This is a recipe for a different way of being spiritual and being the country we want to be. But we have to translate the recipe into a way of life with action.
It is action and a way of life grounded in a divine quality. “Mercy,” says the Pope. “Let us together repeat this word: mercy. All of you!” I am satisfied. Quakers could not have said it better. It would be easy to find Quaker luminaries of the past and, even, in the present to talk similarly. But words are easy. Finally, it is a call to action. It is a call to present a different face to the world.
It is a youthful face. Mercy has a youthful face. Come on kids!
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