Sunday Musings - December 10, 2023
Today I continue with my reflections on the beatitudes. Today the reflection is on Matthew, verse 7, “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy”.
The Greek word used for mercy and merciful in Matthew is eleeo or eleemon from oleos. Generally, the translation is forgiveness, forbearance, withholding of punishment, or compassion. Occasionally, one might find it translated as pity although I think of pity as a negative patronizing term.
The basic Hebrew word for mercy, rehamin, is the plural of “womb” and connects mercy to womb emotion - what a mother instinctively feels for the child of her womb. Some theologians think of true mercy as something God as spiritual father exclusively can grant.
In the context of the New Testament and other teachings of Jesus when I think of mercy I think of the teachings as recorded in the New Testament or some part of the Old Testament. For example:
o “Forgive my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me.”
o “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you….”
o “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
o “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
o “Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other’s just as Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Jesus seems to make no distinction between the love of a mother for a child in her womb and the love he expects us to grant to all humans or even all of nature.
None of us have devised an equitable system for keeping score of how much each of us hurt self, each other and mother earth. In order to keep score one would have to arrive at a set of criteria for judging each hurt or transgression and then track the points per period of time for each of us. I have yet to see such a system which seemed fair, honest and scientific.
As I discussed in my previous musings, apparently Jesus and other wise people already knew what science is now telling us about the illusion of free will; the many factors which affect or determined each thought or plan of action. One does not know why the mind of a particular person directs the actor to perform a certain behavior. The contradiction seems to be that one must have free will to forgive or show mercy to the person. Yet, if one looks more closely one knows that the act of mercy, compassion or forgiveness can be the result of being in balance with all that is. Does one decide or allow oneself to be in balance? If one allows for that possibility, does that indicate free will? I suspect Jesus and other teachers, including present day scientists, are suggesting that we not attempt to fight or block the “natural urge” to align with each other and, thus, to show compassion/forgiveness to ourselves and others.
Jesus as well as other teachers and scientists seem to be stating there is a window of opportunity -what appears to be free will - which allows for the possibility we can stand still and allow ourselves to align with all other people and the rest of the universe. This would mean, for example, that the Israeli people could align with the kinship with their Palestinian brothers and sisters; allow for even more than peaceful co-existence. This would mean the Palestinians could see beneath the history of mistreatment and greet the Israeli people as brother and sister. If we sit quietly long enough with our brothers and sisters, no matter what their past behavior, we will connect with their hearts and not the defensive shell of anger, violence, etc.
We all want and many of us expect mercy. Jesus is clearly stating, “If we want mercy we must be open to granting or allowing it.” No exceptions. The way to peaceful co-existence is not more violence. It is to override our fear and open our hearts to forgive and love; to show the mercy we want to receive.
Written December 9, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Sunday Musings - December 10, 2023
Today I continue with my reflections on the beatitudes. Today the reflection is on Matthew, verse 7, “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy”.
The Greek word used for mercy and merciful in Matthew is eleeo or eleemon from oleos. Generally, the translation is forgiveness, forbearance, withholding of punishment, or compassion. Occasionally, one might find it translated as pity although I think of pity as a negative patronizing term.
The basic Hebrew word for mercy, rehamin, is the plural of “womb” and connects mercy to womb emotion - what a mother instinctively feels for the child of her womb. Some theologians think of true mercy as something God as spiritual father exclusively can grant.
In the context of the New Testament and other teachings of Jesus when I think of mercy I think of the teachings as recorded in the New Testament or some part of the Old Testament. For example:
o “Forgive my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me.”
o “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you….”
o “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
o “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
o “Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other’s just as Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Jesus seems to make no distinction between the love of a mother for a child in her womb and the love he expects us to grant to all humans or even all of nature.
None of us have devised an equitable system for keeping score of how much each of us hurt self, each other and mother earth. In order to keep score one would have to arrive at a set of criteria for judging each hurt or transgression and then track the points per period of time for each of us. I have yet to see such a system which seemed fair, honest and scientific.
As I discussed in my previous musings, apparently Jesus and other wise people already knew what science is now telling us about the illusion of free will; the many factors which affect or determined each thought or plan of action. One does not know why the mind of a particular person directs the actor to perform a certain behavior. The contradiction seems to be that one must have free will to forgive or show mercy to the person. Yet, if one looks more closely one knows that the act of mercy, compassion or forgiveness can be the result of being in balance with all that is. Does one decide or allow oneself to be in balance? If one allows for that possibility, does that indicate free will? I suspect Jesus and other teachers, including present day scientists, are suggesting that we not attempt to fight or block the “natural urge” to align with each other and, thus, to show compassion/forgiveness to ourselves and others.
Jesus as well as other teachers and scientists seem to be stating there is a window of opportunity -what appears to be free will - which allows for the possibility we can stand still and allow ourselves to align with all other people and the rest of the universe. This would mean, for example, that the Israeli people could align with the kinship with their Palestinian brothers and sisters; allow for even more than peaceful co-existence. This would mean the Palestinians could see beneath the history of mistreatment and greet the Israeli people as brother and sister. If we sit quietly long enough with our brothers and sisters, no matter what their past behavior, we will connect with their hearts and not the defensive shell of anger, violence, etc.
We all want and many of us expect mercy. Jesus is clearly stating, “If we want mercy we must be open to granting or allowing it.” No exceptions. The way to peaceful co-existence is not more violence. It is to override our fear and open our hearts to forgive and love; to show the mercy we want to receive.
Written December 9, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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