"Blessed are the merciful..."

This Sunday, through your actions during our "Don't Go to Church, be the Church Day," you will preach the message on Jesus' 5th beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Jesus explains what is meant by this beatitude in the story he shares found in Matthew 18:21-35:

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Those who do not show mercy have either never asked for forgiveness and so have not experienced mercy or they have forgotten all the times God and others have shown them mercy and so in their forgetfulness they do not extend mercy to others.

Mercy is not giving one what they deserve. That is called justice. Mercy is about being offered forgiveness and love even though you do not deserve it.

My wife, my kids, my friends and above all else my God have shown me mercy of which I have no right to claim, but for which I am eternally grateful. In view of the mercy I have been shown, how can I not offer mercy to others?

Sunday morning you will be participants in mercy. Whether what you give is appreciated or in your opinion deserved, give out of a heart of love. As you work along one another perhaps someone will say or do something that rubs you the wrong way, instead of taking offense make a choice to show him or her mercy.

As you choose to act out of a heart of mercy, this Sunday will turn into one of the most meaningful worship experiences you have ever experienced and you will understand why Jesus said "Blessed are the merciful..."

Thank you for being the church!