Thy Mercy

It seems that for many Christians we have an understanding that heaven is only for the sinless and holy people. If that is the case, then only few or no one would be able to go to heaven and be with God for eternity.

I remember having a likely intellectual discussion with my friend about God and salvation. I have quantified the basis of God’s discernment for choosing someone to be with Him in heaven. However, my friend said that it is in God’s mercy that we can have eternal life. I was quite upset to hear it because it appears to be unfair for someone who is trying his best to be a good person by avoiding sins and temptations and yet it is possible for a sinful person to be in heaven because of God’s mercy and compassion.

Mercy is defined as love toward those that are miserable, those that are wretched, and those that need some type of help or assistance. Having compassion on those that are in any way hurting is only the first part of having mercy. Doing something about it, is the all important second part.

The Corporal Works of Mercy such as feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, comfort the imprisoned, visit the sick, and bury the dead while the Spiritual Works of Mercy like admonish sinners, instruct the uninformed, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, be patient with those in error, forgive offenses, and pray for the living and the dead are the ways by which God wanted us to show and share His mercy to our fellowmen.

The story of the two thieves crucified on the cross together with Jesus Christ is a perfect example of God’s mercy and compassion. When God said to Dimas, “Today you shall be with me in paradise,” is apparently a genuine manifestation of God’s great love and mercy to a sinner who at the very moment was blessed by God to be with Him in heaven. Also, when the blessed Pope John Paul II was attempted to be assassinated, he visited the person in the prison cell who tried to kill him and lovingly and mercifully hugged him and forgave him from what he did. It was truly a beautiful expression of God’s loving mercy.

Looking back at the sharing I had with my friend, I realized that God’s love and mercy is infinite and cannot be measured nor be quantified by space and time.  It is endless and unfathomable that not even the greatest theologian in the world can ever comprehend.

It is my ardent hope and prayer that as children of God we can continuously live a life full of mercy and compassion especially to those who need most of it.

The 5^th Beautitude, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”