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(Cont. from Page 26/8/88B).

MERCY: A MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GOD. (3)

'Moreover, when the Lord foretold that he would put the performance of acts of charity to the account of those on the right, and their omission to the account of those on the left, his intention was to show what power such acts have to cancel former offences, but not to give perpetual impunity for sins. For if men refuse to abandon the practice of crimes and to amend their lives, they cannot be said to perform acts of mercy. In fact, when Christ says, 'When you failed to do this to one of the least of these, you failed to do it to me',* he makes it clear that they do not do it even when they suppose that they are doing it. For if they gave food to a hungry Christian, as being a Christian, they certainly would not deprive themselves of the food of righteousness, which is Christ himself, since God is not concerned about the recipient of a gift, but about its motive. Anyone who loves Christ in a Christian gives help to that Christian with the intention of coming closer to Christ, not of escaping from Christ unpunished. For the more one loves what Christ disapproves the more one abandons Christ.'

(From: 'City Of God' by Augustine. BK. XXI. Ch.27) (* Matt 25:45).

QUESTION:

The man who refuses to abandon his practice of crimes and to
amend his life, can he not even so perform* an act of mercy?

It is written: "Be merciful, as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36 Moffatt). This means that one may truly show mercy to another only according to the wisdom that comes from God. (James 3:17,18 NEB). To illustrate this, consider those judges that have exercised clemency towards criminals and set them free, only to learn that they used their freedom to commit more crimes: Evidently, judges of this sort are not exercising the wisdom that comes from God. Which leads us to the question: Can an unprincipled man truly perform an act of mercy? Given his refusal to abandon his crimes and amend his life, is not seeking mercy from such a man futile? As to such a man appearing to show mercy, how could one trust that his motive was a genuine one?

Augustine wrote: 'God is not concerned about the recipient of a gift, but about its motive', which means whether the motive is righteous. There are other qualities of the spirit involved in the exercise of mercy, such as kindness and compassion, and that is why it is not possible to perform an act of mercy without a righteous disposition and the perception required to offer a gift of mercy according to the expressed wisdom from God.

One's motive in showing acts of mercy to Christ's brothers does not involve criminals. As Augustine goes on to reveal: 'Anyone who loves Christ in a Christian gives help to that Christian with the intention of coming closer to Christ... For what does the fact of baptism profit anyone if he is not made righteous?'

With this in mind: "Always speak and act as men who are to be judged under a Law of freedom. In that Judgement there will be no mercy for the man who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over Judgement." (James 2:12,13 NEB).

MERCY:

Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in
his power and who has no claim to receive kindness. Disposition to forgive.

21/8/90.