„BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL"
/„BUĎTE MILOSRDNÍ, AKO JE MILOSRDNÝ AJ VÁŠ OTEC“/

Peter KORMANIK

emeritus professor, secretary, Office of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in Slovakia, Bayerova 8, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, kormanik@orthodox.sk, 00421517724736

Abstract

Ineffable is the mercy and love of the Heavenly Father for mankind. We read about this in many places in the Holy Scriptures, where both Jesus Christ our Savior and the holy apostles give clear testimonies. Although our reflections on mercy will be based more on the teachings of the New Testament Church, the question of mercy is not unknown in the Old Testament. Without mercy even our prayer is fruitless, for a merciful God bows down in natural mercy to prayer, but to the prayer of the merciful. In this paper, we will attempt to look into the texts of the Old and New Testaments that are relevant to our chosen topic. Also on the basis of the analysis of these texts, we can see that the topic is relevant even today and has ways of solution and application in the practical life of man.

Keywords

Jesus Christ, New Testament, Old Testament, mercy, love, Church

SUMMARY

In this our study, we come to a final thought that is closely related to mercy. And this is: What is the reward for all those who in their lives do not forget God's commandment of mercy and manifest it in their daily lives? "Blessed are the merciful, says the Savior, for they shall obtain mercy." [Mt 5:7] This is the response of Is Christ himself, with whom not even a cup of water given to the thirsty will go unrewarded, as he himself says:  "And whosoever shall give one of these little ones to drink, even for a cup of fresh water, as my disciple; verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." [Mt 10:42] God Himself will also protect everyone, having mercy on anyone who falls into misery, misfortune, or experiences other moments of discomfort and distress. "Blessed, says the psalmist David, is he who thinks on the wretch. The Lord will save him in the day of adversity. The LORD will protect him and keep him alive; he will be blessed on the earth. He will not deliver him to the cruelty of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him in the bed of the sick and will utterly deliver him from sickness." [Psalm 40:2-4] In doing so, it must be remembered that mercy from God can only be received by one who is himself merciful. That is why the Apostle James also admonishes us: "Without mercy, judgment awaits the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment." [Jas 2:13]

A very instructive, effective, stimulating and worthy of following conclusion to this reflection on God's commandment, which calls us to do works of mercy, can be found in the words of the Apostle Paul, who exhorts us, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, forbearing one another in reverence. Do not be slothful in zeal. Do not be idle in zeal. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in serving, persevering in prayer. Be involved in the needs of the saints. Be hospitable to strangers. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of one mind with one another. Do not be conceited, but have understanding for the lowly. Do not be wise to yourselves. Do not be wise for yourselves. Do not repay evil for evil.  Strive for what is good in the eyes of all men. If it is possible and depends on you, live in peace with all men." [Rom 12:10-18]

(Language: slovak)

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