Faith Lens: Mercy Meant for Today

Faith Lens is a weekly Bible study that engages youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.

Catalyst Question

How do you define the word “mercy”?

Mercy Meant for Today

This devotion is based on The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). A lectionary is a set of scripture readings assigned to different days throughout the year. Right now, we’re in the third year (known as Year C) of the RCL’s three-year cycle, which was assembled in 1983 by leaders of many denominations. That’s important background because, today, many congregational leaders are being accused of manipulating the biblical selections for worship to fit their own political or social agendas. If the congregation is using the Revised Common Lectionary, that’s simply not the case. These scriptures have been assigned to February 23, 2025 since before most millennials were born.

In the Gospel for this Sunday (Luke 6:27-38), Jesus speaks of many topics that challenge prevailing logic in the United States over the past month or so. In the face of political partisanship, racism, sexism, and economic oppression, Jesus says, “love your enemies.” In the face of funding cuts for programs that support the most at-risk citizens in our country, Jesus says “give to everyone who begs from you, and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.” When these words appear on Sunday, it’s not evidence that your preacher brought an agenda into the pulpit. It’s not hinting of some conspiracy to undermine the current administration. They’re simply the words destined for this Sunday for decades.

This also includes the simple phrase from Jesus, “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” That’s profoundly relevant today because the works of mercy that Lutherans have carried out for hundreds of years are now at risk. The move to freeze or remove congressionally-approved funding is not only legally dubious. It is at odds with Christ’s teachings. Fortunately, as the linked article indicates, Lutheran social service organizations are not backing down from this work of mercy. Instead, following the witness of Christ, they’re doubling down on the work of mercy and advocating that others do the same. Just as Jesus calls us to do.

It is dreadfully difficult to be merciful in such divisive times. Yet, remember that Jesus taught in a similar time. Rather than in relative peace, Jesus lived under Roman occupation. Jesus spoke out against religious and politic corruption. Jesus’ own faith community was divided into many factions. Though 2,000 years old, these words are very much meant for days like today. Especially now, we need mercy in all its forms–generosity, love, forgiveness, and the like. Rather than accidentally occurring or deviously manipulated, perhaps the Holy Spirit moved in 1983. Perhaps God knew, in a country with growing inequality, that we’d need the same words of mercy that spoke into similar divides in past millennia. It just might be that God knew we needed to lead with mercy in such a time as this.

Ask Yourself

What is the hardest part of Jesus teaching today for you to put into practice? Why is that?

Ask a Friend

How can we be more merciful and help others to understand the need for mercy in times like these?