Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10.32–11.1
In His goodness, God takes care of us and never abandons us. Those who know and believe in God’s love for them, deep in their bones, are not afraid when they lack some need, or undergo tribulation. They are confident that God will bring them through, and ultimately provide for them whatever they need. Even death cannot make God’s loving providence void, for His promise of the Resurrection of the dead gives unshakable hope of restoration to those who love Him.
Because of God’s all-embracing, faithful providence, believers in Jesus Christ can afford to be merciful, generous, compassionate, and serve others universally without concern for ourselves. They act from a kind of divine counsel, a divine practicality. They can be completely selfless and disinterested as they do good to others, requiring that justice be done to themselves only as far as is necessary for them to do God’s will. This is the pattern revealed in the Cross of Jesus, and taught in His Sermon on the Mount.
But sinful creatures that we are, we are prone to cling to our own, often limited ideas of fairness and justice. We want our needs fulfilled now so that we can be certain of their fulfillment. We demand our rights, but are slow to fulfill our responsibilities. When the needs of others present themselves, we often think first of what we will lose by helping them. We hold back love out of fear. But God’s love can change us.
In other words, “God’s mercy endures forever,” and as God’s children, we must be like Him. If God can forgive and bless even His worst enemies, so should we. If He can be generous even with the wicked, so should we. If God can give His all in service to all on the Cross for us, so should we spend ourselves in service to all. Those who do so, are “the merciful,” and are blessed by God. They will receive the fullness of God’s mercy.
How does the “deep wisdom” of the merciful prepare us to evangelize?
The merciful are those who are loving and generous with the love and generosity of Jesus Christ. This translates directly into the work of evangelization. As the evangelist gives of himself unselfishly, he makes the message which he preaches credible to the unbelieving and cynical. He also bears witness to the mercy of God that is at the center of the Good News, reenforcing the message of mercy with deeds of mercy.
OTHER “DEEP WISDOM” SERIES LINKS:
The “Deep Wisdom” of the Beatitudes (1 of 9) – Theology for Evangelists
Blessed are the Poor (“Deep Wisdom” 2 of 9) – Theology for Evangelists
Blessed are those who Mourn (“Deep Wisdom” 3 of 9) – Theology for Evangelists
Blessed are the Meek (“Deep Wisdom” 4 of 9) – Theology for Evangelists