“JESUS IS MERCIFUL”
Saint Luke 6. 36-38
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity: 9 July Anno Domini 2006
Fr Watson
Be merciful! That’s the Law. You all fail miserably because no matter what you think, you are not perfectly merciful. You show mercy to people that you think deserve mercy. You "cut some slack" to those whom you like, to those who do things according to your way, to those that show some contrition and acceptance of your opinions and sensitivities. That’s not what God demands. He says "Be merciful." That’s a constant 24-hour a day requirement. Lord have mercy on all of you for not fulfilling this Law.
Cain showed no mercy towards Abel. When you are angry with your brother you too are a murderer in the eyes of the Lord.
Judge not! That is an inflexible commandment. You are not to assume it’s your place, or role, to damn people to hell because of their sins in thought, word and deed. There is only one Judge and that is the Lord God Almighty. Judges issue decrees, rulings, and decisions with binding force. Judges set penalties and send people to prison. Judges are in charge, in control, masters of their own fate. When you doubt the Word of the Lord, as did Adam; when you try to interpret the harshness or "rough edges" of Scripture to fit your own desires and needs; when you Judge your neighbors motives and fail to put the best construction on what he has said or done you have become a Judge.
James and John wanted to Judge a Samaritan village harshly for not showing the Lord the hospitality that they thought He should have received. These so called Disciples, who were supposed to be "Sons of Peace," were rather "Sons of Thunder." That was meant as a rebuke not a compliment.
Condemn not! You are never to seek to punish with the "binding of souls" those who you feel deserve hell. You deserve hell. You especially deserve hell when you seek to usurp to the "Keys of the Kingdom" from the Church and her rightly ordained stewards.
Forgive! The word forgive is a beautiful word. But in this text Jesus is using it as a prescriptive word of Law. You must forgive! You probably have learned to forgive your family members to one degree or another. True forgiveness however never holds back any memories or reminders; true forgiveness is total liberation for the one being absolved. You however keep score. And what about those who are not living with you? Do you forgive your neighbors, co-workers, and fellow parishioners? If you bear resentment towards anyone here today in the assembly of the Saints, you have failed in keeping God’s expectations of you. Because you are not by nature, nor by daily demonstrations, merciful and forgiving, you my sinful hearers have been judged and condemned by the Law of God.
But now, remember, mark well, and digest just Who it is that speaks these Words to you from chapter six of Luke. Jesus is the One Who teaches and shares the Word of God. The Word of God is rightly divided into both Law and Evangel; both condemnation and release from condemnation. The Lord says to you: "Just as your Father also is merciful." Your Who? Does He say your Policeman, Prosecutor, Judge, Jury, Jailor or Executioner? No, Jesus says your Father; Abba, dear tender Father. The very fact that God the Second Person is standing there in the Flesh speaking Words to be heard, to be remember, to be recorded, and now to be preached (Jesus still standing here for all of you) is Good News indeed. His name doesn’t mean "Judge Dread," "Punisher," "Avenger" or "Fool-killer;" His name means Savior. He did not become Incarnate, be carried for nine months in the Virgin’s womb, be born to obey and then suffer and die because He was a warrior, warden, or despot. He is a Shepherd. He loves what belongs to Him and is eternally entrusted into His care. He loves you His little sheep. He gives you Gospel this morning when He reminds you that it is your Father Who is merciful to you. The Father isn’t merciful in sentiment or emotion only, but in will and deed; in reality that has eternal impact. The Father doesn’t hold back and ration out mercy but drenches you to the skin, to the soul, with gracious mercy: "running over you…put into your bosom."
Jesus your Savior has plucked the plank of your sin, and of your sins, out of your eyes and used those planks as cross pieces to be slain upon. He gives you back your vision to behold Him in His Word and in His Supper. Your + Baptisms are thus replenished and His mercy daily runs over you into your bosom.
When the heavenly Father looks upon you, listens to your prayers, and sees you during your days’ activities, He sees not the damned sinner but rather He beholds you placed deep inside His Only Begotten Son’s wounds of mercy; the Father sees you In Christ, and thus you too are His only begotten Sons and Daughters. In Jesus, in His Words which are yours through Scripture; in His New Life which is yours through Baptism; in His Body and Blood which is yours through the Eucharist; you are His disciple made just like Him the Teacher. The ditch of eternal death and damnation has been filled in by His obedience and passion. You now stand on the Rock of Ages and feast with His Father, your Father the Merciful.
In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost