The Gracious Circle

In Jesus’ list of “Beatitudes”, the one on “mercy” follows the one on “righteousness” or “justice”. This would not go unnoticed by those who were listening to Jesus teach. In Jesus’ time, the most righteous people, those who made the most of “hungering and thirsting after God ‘s righteousness” — the religious people, the Church-going people — were often the most unmerciful. On this matter of mercy, there is a striking passage in the third chapter of Mark which helps us to get close to the humanity of Jesus. We are told directly that Jesus was very angry on one occasion. And as you read this chapter, you discover that His anger was directed toward the religious people who had shown a great lack of sensitivity and compassion. Consequently, Jesus looked at them in anger — “Grieved at their hardness of heart,” is the way the text reads (Mk. 3:5).

Unfortunately, the problem continues to be with us. According to one University chaplain, “All…