Mercy
Reading for Sunday, March 7
Mark 5: 18-19
As Jesus was getting in the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”.
Many of Jesus’ parables that involve miracles ask the recipient to keep quiet but this one does not. Jesus wants the man to go share the news and show how the Lord had mercy on him. How do we show mercy to others? I’m not sure how to even explain mercy so I researched definitions and this is how I would explain it. Mercy is love and compassion, not just feelings and emotions, but expressing it in tangible ways. So mercy is an action verb, it’s doing something. Another explained mercy as kindness in excess of what may be expected. It’s always better to be surprised than disappointed, so excess kindness is always good!
It can be overwhelming to think of all the needs in the world and how I can make a contribution that matters, but any small act of kindness could be what makes another person’s day. My Mom has said that she wakes up every day and says “Lord, what can I do for you today?” We could all start there. Is there someone who’s lonely and a phone call or visit would lift their spirits?
The church offers us all opportunities to help others - the food pantry, blankets for the Hope Center, the Garden of Eden to name a few. These contributions may not feel to each individual like world changing actions but every act of generosity is an act of mercy. As the author and poet Maya Angelou advises “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud”.
Robin Gray
Reading for Sunday, March 7
Mark 5: 18-19
As Jesus was getting in the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”.
Many of Jesus’ parables that involve miracles ask the recipient to keep quiet but this one does not. Jesus wants the man to go share the news and show how the Lord had mercy on him. How do we show mercy to others? I’m not sure how to even explain mercy so I researched definitions and this is how I would explain it. Mercy is love and compassion, not just feelings and emotions, but expressing it in tangible ways. So mercy is an action verb, it’s doing something. Another explained mercy as kindness in excess of what may be expected. It’s always better to be surprised than disappointed, so excess kindness is always good!
It can be overwhelming to think of all the needs in the world and how I can make a contribution that matters, but any small act of kindness could be what makes another person’s day. My Mom has said that she wakes up every day and says “Lord, what can I do for you today?” We could all start there. Is there someone who’s lonely and a phone call or visit would lift their spirits?
The church offers us all opportunities to help others - the food pantry, blankets for the Hope Center, the Garden of Eden to name a few. These contributions may not feel to each individual like world changing actions but every act of generosity is an act of mercy. As the author and poet Maya Angelou advises “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud”.
Robin Gray