Luke 6:36

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”

Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall
receive mercy.
 Luke 6:36
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”
MERCY
POPE FRANCIS
  Mercy in the Bible

For us, as Catholic Christians, the

understanding and expression of our faith
begins with the Sacred Scriptures, both the
Old and New Testaments. We believe the
Bible to be the Word of God, the primary
source and foundation of revealed truth
  Mercy in the Bible
There are other scriptural words as well,
scholars tell us, that are used to express the
notion of “mercy” as we have come to use the
word, but for our purposes here, we look to the
Sacred Scriptures’ references to “mercy” as
something – an “attribute” – rooted in the very
nature and essence of God.
  Mercy in the Bible
In the Bible, the word “mercy” appears as many as
276 times.
In the Old Testament, two words can be seen
translated as Mercy:

Rahamim or rachamim
Hesed or chesed
  Mercy in the Bible
In the Bible, the word “mercy” appears as many as
276 times.
In the New Testament we have the word:

Eleos - noun
Eleeo - verb
The Natural Feeling of Mercy
1. Mercy seen in Feminine Terms – is
the tender love of a mother who,
touched by the frailty of her new born
baby, takes the child into her arms and
provides everything it needs to live and
grow “rahamim”
Rahamim – Heb word (rachamim) – tender love,
compassion, a love that springs from pity
“Rachamin” comes from a root word "rechem,"
which means a mother's womb
The Natural Feeling of Mercy
2. Mercy seen in Masculine Terms – is
the steadfast fidelity of a father who
constantly supports, forgives and
encourages his children to grow “hesed”.

Hesed – Heb word – in OT: steadfast love and covenant

love. Hesed is one of Yahweh's most treasured characteristics.
The Natural Feeling of Mercy
2. Mercy seen in Masculine Terms
“hesed”.

Mercy is the fruit of a covenant; that is

why God is said to remember his
covenant of mercy

Hesed – Heb word – in OT: steadfast love and covenant

love. Hesed is one of Yahweh's most treasured characteristics.
The Natural Feeling of Mercy
3. In the New Testament, the Greek word
that is usually translated as "mercy" is the
word "eleos/eleeo"
It can also be translated as -
loving kindness
-tender compassion.
The Greek word comes from
a root word ele meaning
oil that is poured out.
The Natural Feeling of Mercy
Thus, when the church sings in her liturgy
the Greek words Kyrie Eleison [Lord have Mercy]
and Christi Eleison [Christ have mercy]…

she is praying that the merciful love of God

will be poured out upon her children, like
holy oil from above.
Eleos– Heb word – a loving kindness or tender
compassion
Bartimaeus crying to the Jesus saying

“eleison me / have mercy on me”

He was saying,

“Lord Jesus, pour out your tender

compassion on me”
 Bartimaeus crying to the Jesus “eleison me”

“Lord Jesus, pour out your tender compassion on me”

 The Natural Feeling of Mercy
According to the ancient Fathers of the Church

The Church herself was born from the

wounded side of Christ, when out of His heart
there poured out blood and water, symbolic of
all the graces of the two chief sacraments,
Baptism and the Eucharist (Jn 19:34). In short,
“eleos” is God's love poured out upon His
people.
Eleos– Heb word – a loving kindness or tender compassion
The Natural Feeling of Mercy
4. “rahamim” is often used in conjunction with
“hesed”
Thus, there is a special intimacy and respon-
siveness about this kind of love, and a special
concern for the sufferings of others. The Holy
Father sees hesed as, in a sense, a masculine
form of love (steadfast, dependable, righteous,
being true to oneself and true to one's promises)
while rahamim is more feminine (tender,
responsive, compassionate, like a mother
responding in love to the sufferings of her child).
 The Natural Feeling of Mercy
Pope Francis writes,

As we can see in Sacred Scripture, mercy

is a key word that indicates God’s action
towards us.
He does not limit himself merely to
affirming his love, but makes it visible
and tangible.
 The Natural Feeling of Mercy
Pope Francis writes,

Love, after all, can never be just an

abstraction. By its very nature, it
indicates something concrete:
intentions,
attitudes, and
behaviors
that are shown in daily living.
 The Natural Feeling of Mercy
Pope Francis writes,
The mercy of God is his loving concern for
each one of us. He feels responsible; that
is, he desires our wellbeing and he wants
to see us happy, full of joy, and peaceful.
This is the path which the merciful love
of Christians must also travel. As the
Father loves, so do his children. Just as he
is merciful, so we are called to be merciful
to each other (VM, 9).
The three “concretes”
Let us reflect on these three “concretes” that
Pope Francis identifies.

First, “intentions.”

The dictionary defines an “intention”

-as a “determination to act in a certain way.”
-the thing that you plan to do or
achieve : an aim or purpose
The three “concretes”
Next, “attitudes.”
We commonly use the word “attitude” to
describe our “disposition” or “way of
thinking or feeling about someone or
something.”

Finally, our intentions and attitudes

consequently lead to “behaviors” or
“actions/conduct” in life.  
The three “concretes”

These three “concretes” 

– intentions, attitudes and behaviors  

– guides us to look into our minds,

hearts and souls to see if and how
mercy of God can be found there.
Mercy in the Scripture:
Therefore this all-embracing character of
Mercy in the scripture means to;
# everyone can appreciate what it
means to be merciful,

# to feel compassion for those who

suffer,
Mercy in the Scripture:
Therefore this all-embracing character of
Mercy in the scripture means that;

# sympathy for those in need

# visceral indignation in the face of

patent injustice and a desire to respond
with loving respect by attempting to set
things right
Mercy in the Scripture:
If we reflect on this natural feeling of
Mercy, we begin to see how God Himself
can be understood in terms of this
defining attribute by which Jesus wished
to reveal Him to us.

God’s name is mercy.

“Misericordiar” and “ser misericordiados”
Pope Francis said;

“I like to use ‘mercy’ as a verb: We have to

show mercy [misericordiar in Spanish] – to
‘mercify’, to be merciful”

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will

receive mercy” [Mt 5:7].

To be merciful means “to mercify”,

a heart that goes out to misery
“Misericordiar” and “ser misericordiados”
Pope Francis said;

“We have to show ‘mercy’ [to mercify] in

order “to receive mercy” [ser misericordiados
in Spanish] – ”to be mercified”- to receive
mercy
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will
receive mercy” [Mt 5:7].

Mercy joins a human need to the heart of

God
 “ser misericordiados”
Let us now reflect on the Father’s love for his
prodigal son.

Let us inter into

the life of the
son who, like
us, needs “to be
mercified”
 “ser misericordiados”
Let us now reflect on the Father’s love for his
prodigal son.

Let us inter into

the life of the
son who like us
needs “to be
mercified”
 The Prodigal Son
What the younger son did?

1. He asks for his share of state [insult to the father]

This is like our own cry, “give me something, that
which I do not have.”

“I know Lord that you have it and you can give it to

me.”

“I am lacking of some-thing, give it to me. I want to

possess it.”

We ask for the consolations of God but not the God of

 The Prodigal Son
What the younger son did?

2. He left the house of the father [wrong direction]

The “world” tries to deceive and invite us to leave
the Father’s house.

We put our own will over the will of God the Father.

We deliberately cut off ourselves from the Father and

move into our own “chora makra.”
 The Prodigal Son
What the younger son did?
3. He move to the distant country [chora makra]

In Greek the “distant country” is chora makra,

chora – empty, makra – big/open space
So he is wandering into his chora makra,
meaning “he wanders into “the great wide-
open emptiness in his life”.
The younger son wanted to follow his
desires, as if this is freedom, went to the place
where happiness is shallow and promises
nothing but emptiness.
 The Prodigal Son
What the younger son did?
3. He move to the distant country [chora makra]

Our sin is chora makra,

The younger son after having done everything
he wanted to do, now, instead of being free,
he feels enslaved.
Embracing sin is our own “chora makra.”
Apparently there is goodness in sin that is why
it appears desirable but its effect will enslave
us. Once enslave, makipaglandian na tayo sa
ating kasalanan. We are trapped in the web.
 The Prodigal Son
The Father’s response to us

His love will always follow [attract] us as a grace and invites

us to come to our senses[I shall return to my father saying, “I have
against heaven and against you…”]

God uses our sinfulness as the vessel of His mercy[grace

of nostalgia- “in my father’s house there is enough food…”] nostos-
homecoming, return algos- pain, nostalgia – the painful desire of
coming home to the Father.

Mercy will expand our soul and move it to return to the

Father; mercy evokes the spirit of “sonship”- that we
may desire the embrace of the Father.
 The Prodigal Son
The Father’s response to us

After the embrace, the son finds himself at the banquet.

Though he now has robe, ring and sandals, he was still
dirty and finds himself at the center of the celebration.
[from embarrassment to dignity]

Is it not our experience? We still have our sinful

inclinations, we still love to return to our “chora
makra” and yet we found ourselves at the banquet of
the Eucharist. We are still dirty but found ourselves at
the center of the celebration in His Church. God uses
our sinfulness as the vessel of His mercy[embarrassed dignity]
 The Mercy of God
“We have to ask ourselves how much
mercy is to be received. On what barren
and parched land must this flood of living
water surge? What are the wounds that
need this precious balm? What is the
sense of abandonment that cries out for
loving attention? What is the sense of
estrangement that so thirsts for embrace
and encounter”. “ser misericordiados”
Meditating on Mercy
When we meditate on Mercy, something
special happens. Mercy will help us see that
the three ways of classical mysticism:

- the purgative,

- the illuminative

- and the unitive

Meditating on Mercy
Mercy will help us see that the three ways of
classical mysticism:
- purgative
Through God’s mercy, we are forgiven
though we don’t deserve it. This forgiving
mercy of God purges [cleanse] us and restores
us to the dignity as sons and daughters of
God.
We need to approach always His forgiving
mercy.
Meditating on Mercy
Mercy will help us see that the three ways of
classical mysticism:

- illuminative
By experiencing the mercy of God, we can
translate and practice mercy in His name
daily. We illuminate our life with His mercy.
On the same manner, we also teach other
people to become merciful like the Father.
[mahahawa sa ating habag at awa]
Meditating on Mercy
Mercy will help us see that the three ways of
classical mysticism:
- unitive
When we live out mercy in our life, we will
realized that we are one in the Mercy of the
Father. We are one in this “one world”.
Our mercy is not even limited inside the
christian churches; we can be merciful even
to non-christians: all of us are created by
God. Mercy impels us to pass from personal
to communal
Meditating on Mercy
These classical mysticisms are not
successive stages; that is, once experienced,
can then be put behind us.
We never ceases to be in need of reward
conversion, deeper contemplation and
greater love.
These three phases intertwine e recur.
Nothing unites us to God more than an act of
mercy. Nothing strengthens our faith more
than being cleansed of our sins.
 “misericordiar”
Since we have experienced the loving
compassion of God “hesed” and the mercy He
poured to us “eleos”it is now our turn [to
mercify] to show mercy to other people in
misery “rahamim.”
Pouring our heart “eleeo” will give other people
the opportunity to experience the Mercy of God.

Let us be merciful like the Father.

 “misericordiar”
Simon Peter is trained by the Lord to be both Simon
and Peter. Simon, the ordinary man with all his
faults and inconsistencies, and Peter, the bearer of
the keys who leads the others.
Peter is asked at length about his love, instilling in
him sorrow and shame for his disloyalty and
cowardice, but he will also thrice entrust to him the
care of his sheep.
This is also true to us. Though we constantly in
need of God’s mercy, we are also entrusted by God
to share His mercy through us. Just as we are
mercified, let us mercify other people: an agent of
God’s Mercy.
 Pope Francis visit

Here we can witness how Pope

Francis translates into action the very
Mercy of God
I am ever with you
 “misericordiar”
What shall we do?

Be there at the side of misery. Pope Francis

suggested that we have to go to the poor at least
once a week
The church is like a field hospital treating
those deeply wounded by their own sin or
caused by the sins [sinful structure] of other people.
[wounds that could mean life or death: heaven
or hell]
Be there for them
God will tell you what to do
 “misericordiar”
What shall we do?

…smell like the sheep. It is not enough to

give contributions to them but be there to give
your gift- your very “best gift” might be your
“very presence”. To be in solidarity with them.

In stead of being collectors of antiquities or

novelties —let us be shepherds living with the
smell of the sheep
 “misericordiar”
What shall we do?

Be there for them, “...smell like the sheep”

Summary
hesed as, in a sense, a masculine form of love (steadfast,
dependable, righteous, being true to oneself and
true to one's promises)

rahamim is more feminine (tender, responsive,

compassionate, like a mother responding in love to
the sufferings of her child).

eleos poured like oil-loving kindness, tender

compassion.
Summary

misericordiar in Spanish] – to ‘mercify’, to be

merciful,” a heart that goes out to misery

ser misericordiados in Spanish] to receive mercy

– ”to be mercified”- to receive mercy

Pope Francis said

“We have to show ‘mercy’ [to mercify] in
order [to be mercified] “to receive mercy”
we cannot separate the two
Summary

God’s love [mercy] will always follow [attract]

us and invites us to come to our [to see our sins]

God uses our sinfulness as the vessel of His

mercy

nostalgia- is a grace– the painful desire of coming

home to the Father.
Conclusion

Though we constantly in need of God’s

mercy, we are also entrusted by God to share
His mercy through us.
Just as we are mercified, let us mercify
other people too. We should not separate the
two.

“…forgive us our trespasses as we for those

who trespassed against us”
 Luke 6:36
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”

Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall
receive mercy.

Let us pray

Psalm 51

“mesirere” prayer
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In
your compassion blot out my offense. O wash
me more and more from my guilt and cleanse
me from my sin.

My offenses truly I know them; my sin is

always before me. Against you, you alone, have
I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give

sentence and be without reproach when you
judge. O see, in guilt was I born, a sinner was I
conceived.
 Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the
secret of my heart teach me wisdom. O purify
me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be
whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the
bones you have crushed may revive. From my
sins turn away your face and blot out all my
guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God, put a
steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away
from your presence, nor deprive me of your
holy spirit.
 Give me again the joy of your help; with a
spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach
transgressors your ways and sinners may return
to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue
shall ring out your goodness. O Lord, open my
lips and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt
offering from me you would refuse; my
sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite
heart you will not spurn.
 In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be
pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered
on your altar.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the

Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen
Let us pray

Father, he who knew no sin was made sin for

us, to save us and restore us to your
friendship. Look upon our contrite heart and
afflicted spirit and heal our troubled
conscience, so that in the joy and strength of
the Holy Spirit we may proclaim your praise
and glory before all the nations.
“blessed are the merciful...” Mt.5-7

DAGHANG SALAMAT