As we go, we are called to learn God’s way of mercy. How
do we learn mercy? David Brooks, in his book Call to
Character, says brokenness or suffering is what makes people
compassionate or merciful. Do we learn mercy through the
experience of our own brokenness? Or do we become bitter
victims? Learning mercy implies that we emerge from our
brokenness not as victims but as people who care enough to
work toward making sure that others do not experience the
same brokenness. Mercy often carries a justice element to it.
Why do I care that “all” means “all” in our church?
Because I know what it’s like to be rejected by the church I
love. While my “home” church denomination greatly shaped
who I am and my faith, when God called me into ministry,
that same church rejected my call! Now I’m a “bornagain”
United Methodist in the sense that I want everyone
to be received and accepted by a church that professes grace
toward all. Countless people experience rejection, shunning,
denial, and are made suspect in our churches and
communities because of their race, color, disability, sexual
orientation, economic and class differences—all aspects of
being that persons have little or no control over. Maybe
you’ve always been well received, listened to, noticed, and
encouraged. If so, learning mercy may prove difficult.
But more likely, you too may have had a wounding life
experience that has inflicted brokenness. What is your point
of brokenness, and how does it motivate you to make sure
that you don’t treat others like the righteous ones in Jesus’
day treated Matthew?
By Sally Dyck from The Upper Room: 60 Days of Prayer for General Conference 2016