Blessed are the merciful.
Mercy and Judgement
In Jesus’ and Paul’s community, there was a culture of judgment. When people failed to adhere to the ‘rules,’ they were immediately admonished.
In our communities, we often admonish those in the ‘other’ group. It’s all about left or right, conservative or liberal, us or them.
Jesus suggests a third way. Rather than exacting judgment, we lend an ear to hear and understand those whose views differ from ours in a loving way.
Can we be a people of mercy?
“Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”