Mark 1:13

"He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him."

In the desert, there are wild beasts, tempting me to fear.  I focus on them, cowering, oblivious to the beauty, the distraction! of the heavenly hosts encouraging, soothing, protecting me.

Change my focus, Lord.  make me oblivious to the toothless wild beasts and fix my soul on You.  the angels are here because You are here.  With me.

Whispering, "Trust."

John 8:1-11  A Woman Caught in Adultery 

 1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.”And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Why is God merciful?  Because of our fallen nature, the relationship, especially sexual ones, are deeply flawed and often unjust.  For this reason, Jesus was “extra” kind and merciful to women in his day as they were so literally (and often still are) subject to men’s physical strength, lust and lack of mercy.  So it follows that the reason Jesus is so merciful is because the whole societal system is grossly unjust.

Sociological Hogwash based on the false premise that there is a rational reason for God’s Mercy!  His Mercy goes way, way WAY beyond reason.  Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His Mercy endures forever!  Second only to His love, is His Mercy.  Because of His irrational love (the only thing irrational about God), His mercy is boundless.  Love and Mercy.  Mercy and Love.  And Grace. And Grace, free, unmerited favor. 

Love               mercy                        grace

The irrational trinity of God’s fundamental character.  These are his cardinal virtues.  All of His virtues and attributes flow from these.  Jesus does not choose to condemn me.  Jesus chooses Mercy.  Jesus, once again, chooses to give Life to me, telling me only to go and sin no more.  Knowing I will.  Knowing I will.

The people gathered around Jesus that day to hear him teach.  The Scribes and Pharisees were off trap-setting, but then all left, leaving Jesus alone with the woman.  Perhaps being with Jesus and learning from him they were open to realize that they had learned all the lesson they needed that day.  That lesson is Mercy.  In a way, The Lesson of the Christian life is Mercy.  Let go.  Give Mercy.  Receive Mercy.  Be Mercy. 

Why is the French word for “thank you”, to show gratitude, “merci”?  I need to look into that.  Our whole Christian walk should be in gratitude for Jesus’ Mercy.

Praise you, Jesus, for your mercy to me,

I do not deserve it

It is not rational

Yet you give it freely

Again and again and again

Your mercy is rash

Your mercy is foolish

Your mercy is unjust

By human standards

Thank you, Jesus, for mercy beyond measure.