# The Meaning and Implication of Mercy
*2015-12-21*

> Bill Young reflects on the biblical roots of God’s mercy, its significance in the Old and New Testaments, and offers a prayer for the Holy Year of Mercy.

## Mercy in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, mercy (Hebrew “chesed”) expresses God’s covenantal love—a loyalty, dependability, and willingness to help when we fall into trouble. God’s desire for a relationship keeps Him attentive to our cries for help, hearing us despite the barrier of sin. Mercy is more than a response to suffering; it is God’s fierce covenant attachment, like a loving father who lavishes gifts on His people not because of their merit but out of pure generosity.

## Mercy in the New Testament

Jesus reveals the Father’s mercy in a new way. He announces the Kingdom of God as a covenant community where God, the heavenly benefactor, shows mercy and provides what we need. Rather than emphasizing the law as the Pharisees did, Jesus stresses gratitude for the gifts we receive from God’s mercy and calls us to share those gifts with others.

## A Prayer for the Holy Year of Mercy

Lord Jesus Christ, who taught us to be merciful as the Father, help us see Your face in every person we encounter. You are the visible image of the invisible Father, manifesting power through forgiveness and mercy. May the Church become that visible face in the world. Send Your Spirit, anoint each of us, and make this Jubilee of Mercy a year of grace. Let the Church, renewed in enthusiasm, bring the Good News to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, and restore sight to the blind. Amen.

*May we live this Holy Year as witnesses to God’s boundless mercy.*