Killian Kpogoh Sdb

The Mercy of God and Human Expression Killian Kpogoh Sdb

In the parable devoted to mercy, Jesus reveals the nature of God as that of a Father who never gives up until he has forgiven the wrong and overcome rejection with compassion and mercy. We know these parable well, these in particular, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the father with two sons {c.f Lk 13: 1 see the care-32}. In these parables, God is presented as full of joy, especially when he pardons. In these scriptural text, we see the care of our faith and of the gospel, showing mercy as a force that overcomes everything, and filling the heart with love and consolation through pardon. But today, one of the issues most of us fail to understand, taking for granted in Christendom is the mercy of God. We fail to cognize why the uncompromising God tempers justice with mercy on our behalf whilst we wallow in sin. We fail to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. In this book, Jesus warns us to be careful so as not to become like the ruthless servant in Matthew 18:21-35 whose master had pity on him, cancelled his debt and let him go. But when went out, and found one of his debtors decided to have no mercy on him. It is in this light that the authors exhort that since God has been merciful to us, we too must be merciful to others, especially in our judgements.