"We Love (Extend Mercy & Justice) Because God First Loved Us" (updated 6/20)

Ps. 103:13, NIRV

      Recently we discussed the pathos and pain of God--part of God’s love

for us.[1]   How often such divine pathos must be evoked by the cruel way

we treat one another!  One aspect of that cruelty was highlighted by two

comedians recently: Rosanne Barr’s extremely racist tweet about

Valerie Jarrett (5/29/18).  This was followed the same week by comedian

Samantha Bee’s offensive comments about Ivanka Trump.  (Both

comedians did offer strong apologies shortly thereafter).

    The real point we wish to make in this regard comes from comments

made by a noted theologian the same evening that the Rosanne Barr story

burst into the news. Among other thoughtful comments, this theologian

spoke of our need to treat one another with “tenderness,” “sweetness,”

and “justice,” which is “love in . . . public” (Dr. Cornell West). [2] 

(Note: Regarding the above sentiments we have added fresh comments

in 2020 near the time of George Floyd's memorial service and the protests

following his unjust death [5/25/20]. See these added thoughts at the

end of this post.)

     The words above regarding “tenderness,” “sweetness,” and “justice”

come close to repeating the Apostle Paul’s words (quoted here in the

Expanded Bible): “Be kind and loving [compassionate; tenderhearted] to

each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ”;

Eph. 4:32, EXB.

     Meanwhile, thoughts about love and justice in the public sphere remind us of Micah 6:8: “[A]nd what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”; NRSV, NRSVCE.

     Again and again we have returned to the theme of God’s “tender mercy” in this blog.  (Note the tenderness in the verses above.  Also in one entire post we address the frequency with which expression of God’s “tender mercy” appears in scripture.[3])  However, it does not end here.  If we truly understand and receive God’s “tender mercy” we know--unless we are very hard headed--that God grants graces so that there might also be a flow of such graces in our lives.  Pass it on!  

     The “tender mercy” of God is given because God loves us--simply loves us beyond reason--but then also hopefully so that through us love might flow out into the world.  We pass such “tender mercy” on to one another!  It is utterly amazing that so many in America claim to be part of Judeo-Christian tradition, with our sacred texts that are filled with discussion of God’s “tender mercy,”[4] and still we have such a hard time with the pass it on portion--perhaps especially in the public sphere.

    Note how the Apostle Paul passed “tender mercy” along as he carried the

Good News of the Gospel:

“[W]e were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her

own children”; 1 Thes. 2:7, CEB.

    The Apostle Paul might also have repeated prayers similar to this: 

                             

     And in regard to love in the public sphere--justice--note the Apostle Paul’s words: “Don’t be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you.  Rather be good to each other and to everyone else”; 1 Thes. 5:15, CEV.  (Justice has many aspects; note other aspects in verses that follow.)

     But how do we fragile human beings learn to pass such love along?  As Catherine of Siena says: “Then the soul, seeing how tremendously she is loved [by God], is herself filled to overflowing with love.”[5]

     Similarly, in a passage that begins with themes very similar to those previously discussed throughout our blog, the Apostle Paul writes, “[I]f His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters here is one thing that would complete my joy--come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love.  Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over.  Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others”; Phil. 2;1-3, Voice.  The Apostle Paul has the proper order here.  First in importance (because it is basic to everything else) is that we learn to know God's love, encouragement, companionship, tenderness, and mercy (topics we’ve discussed in previous posts).  We meditate[6] upon these and allow these to fill our hearts, so we might be filled and empowered to pass them on in love.

      God also brings the healing and revivification that allows a flow of love in our lives: that unblocks those wounds that cause us to turn in upon ourselves and our own pain.[7]  Hildegard of Bingen says, “God will take care of you, healing your wounds; and we shall be the instruments of his love.”[8] 

     So we pray that we might know God’s love and healing in a deeper and deeper way; then we will also be able to pass such love on: 

  

An early morning prayer:

    Fill my cup, Lord, that is all—fill my cup again.

    And oh, I do so love YOU—

    for YOU have loved me tenderly,

    even when I did not know.

    So fill my cup and help me grow

    into the shape of YOUR Love!

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show

that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to

us.”; 2 Cor. 4: 7, RSV.[9] 

                                                                                          

(Note: In this prayer we ask for what is always the proper order in our
meditations if we would gain strength: reflecting first upon 1 Jn. 4:16;
then upon 1 Jn. 4:19.  See these verses quoted shortly below.)

                                                                                  * * *    

  Similarly, everything depends upon the response suggested here:

     An opening to prayer/meditation:

                         

Forever the Spirit whispers, May I have this dance . . . ?

And our mission in life depends upon our “Yes,”

our “Maybe,”

or even our unconscious “No.

(With reflection upon Ephesians 4:7-13.)

* * *

We need to meditate[10] upon verses such as the MEDLEY OF VERSES (about

THE COMMON GOOD and service) below. We need to let God's message in such

verses sink deeply into our hearts. This MEDLEY stresses a tender God’s desire

that we treat one another with “sweetness,” “tenderness,” and “justice.” (Note:

the final two verses--added during traumatic events in 2020--hold a special

place in this MEDLEY.)

MEDLEY OF VERSES--Passing Love On (including in the public sphere):

                           

- “We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love toward ourselves.  God

is love, and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him. . . . We are

to love, then, because he loved us first”; 1 Jn. 4:16-19, JB.

- “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of

service, but the same Lord. . . . Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is

given for the common good"; 1 Cor 12: 5-7, NIV. (Note THE COMMON GOOD--

to some extent this summarizes this whole medley!)

- "For the Lord loves justice; [and] he will not forsake his faithful ones"; Ps. 37:28,

NRSV, NRSVCE.

                           

- “[S]erve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping

this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”; Gal. 5:13-14, NIV. (Also

see Mt. 22:36-40.)

                           

- Through the Prophet Hosea, God declares: “I want [ . . . delight in] faithful love [mercy;
lovingkindness] more than I want . . . sacrifices . . .”; Hos. 6:6, EXB.

                         

- “[B]ut let justice flow like water, and uprightness like a never-failing

stream!”; Amos 5:24, NJB.

                           

- “[P]ut on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes.  Don’t be proud. Be
gentle and patient. Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding
something against someone.  Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you. And over all these
good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one”;
Col. 3:12, NIRV.

                             

- Jesus says: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat . . . I was a

stranger and you invited me in”; Mt. 25:35, NIV. (We need to meditate upon

the entirety of Jesus’ famous teaching in Mt. 25:31-46. We also believe we ought

to discern public voices in regard to this great passage. It is so easy to lie in

regard to other issues. But here one's record will tell the truth!)

                             

- “Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly.  But those who do what is
wrong don’t care about the poor”; Prov. 29:7, NIRV.

                           

- “Observe how Christ loved us.  His love was not cautious but extravagant.  He

didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.  

Love like that”; Eph. 5:2, Message paraphrase.

                           

- “In love of the brothers [sisters] be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor

preferring one another . . .”; Rom. 12:10, WEB.

                             

- “May he stand by those who are poor, save the children of those in need, and

destroy the bad power over them”; Ps. 72:4, NLV.

                             

- “Be kind and tender to one another”; Eph. 4:32, NIRV.

                             

- “Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the

land. . . .  Will not the land tremble for this . . . ?”; Amos 8:4,8, NIV.

                             

- “[L]earn to do good.  Seek justice: help the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the
widow”; Isa. 1:17, CEB (i.e., stand up for those who are not in a position to defend
themselves!).

                             

- God “enacts justice . . . and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing.  

That means you must also love immigrants because you [and later Jesus’ family]

were immigrants in Egypt.  Revere the Lord your God, serve him, cling to him . . .”;

Duet. 10:18-20, CEB.

                             

- “The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding. . . .  

He won’t judge by appearances, nor decide by hearsay. He will judge the needy

with righteousness, and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land”;

Isa. 11:4, CEB.

                             

- “Seek the Lord and live. . . .  There are those who turn justice into bitterness and

cast righteousness to the ground. . . .  There are those who hate the one who upholds

justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth. . . .  There are those who

oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the

courts. . . .  Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts”; Amos 5: 6-15, NIV.

                             

- “. . . I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that

you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven”; (Jesus)

Mt. 5:44-45, CEB.

                             

- “‘He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is that not

what it means to know me?’ declares the Lord”; Jer. 22:16, NIV.

                             

- “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another”; 1 Jn. 4:11,
NRSVCE, NRSV.

                           

- “Don't all of us have the same father? Hasn't the same God created us? Why
are we unfaithful to each other?"; Mal. 2:10, GW.

(Two special verses added in 2020: see thoughts at the end of this post.)

- “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy”; Prov. 31:9, NIV.

- “Do you know what I [the Lord] want? I want justice--oceans of it. I want

fairness--rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want"; Amos 5:24, The

Message Bible.

     * * *

 We close with thoughts for meditation, prayer/poetry/proverbs:      

An opening to prayer/meditation:

(With reflection upon Jn. 10:10; Ex. 3:14, DRA.)

* * *                                 

“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His

works…”; Ps. 145:9, AMP, KJV (also note 1 Kings 19:12, RSV).  Our task?--to pass on

such “tender mercies” in a wounded world!

* * *

Although this next selection was written earlier, it was placed here in 2020 at the time
of George Floyd's memorial service. It addresses the systemic injustice that
some groups and minorities experience--something Mr. Floyd's shocking
death (5/25/20) helped to expose:

“Not 'Cinder-Ella’s' Keeper???”  

Little by little we would create a world 

of hopeless "Cinder-Ellas"   

without promise of a prince:

policies that reward the rich

and throw insults at the poor; 

declare, I am not my "bro's keeper," 

set up the exact situations Jesus so despised--  

marginalizing day by day . . . those already at risk. [11]  

And doing it even in the name of Jesus:

the greatest paradox of all!-- 

creating a world of "Cinder-Ellas," 

whose finery (food) must be ashes.  

          

"Well, so we’re not our sister's keeper!"

And calling this good! ... ?

Masking the heart of the “PRINCE OF PEACE”--

yes, and all the while calling   

it good!     

     (With reflection upon Jesus’ words: Mt. 5:3, 12:18, 21:12-16, 23:23,
25:31-46; also James 2:4-9; Gen. 1:31, 4:9; Isa. 1:17, 9:6-7, 10:1-2,
56:1, 59:14-15.[12] Note also that "Keeper" is an important biblical

word. If we desire a "Keeper" in our times of need, we learn to

pass it on when others are in need as well: see Ps. 121:5, KJV,

NRSV; 1 Pet. 2:25, GNT.)

(Note: the last two Bible verses in the Medley of Verses above were heard in the
news and in accompanying biblically related commentary regarding injustice in May,

2020. They were added here at that time, along with “Not 'Cinder-Ella’s'

Keeper???” just above. See further thought on today's theme in an earlier

post.[13])

 * * *  

“Where ‘Gitchi Manitou’ Roams”    

“Gitchi Manitou” is Ojibwe for the “The Great Mystery” or “Sky 

Chief.”  The place is my home, a northern Great Lakes region with

a surprising early history of remarkably friendly relationships between 

those of Native American and European (French) heritage (acc. Fort 

Michilimackinac State Park, MI).  Imagery from each heritage follows.   

I know where the Wild Leek grows

and Violets in triple colors raise their lovely heads.

I know where the ancient spirit of Gitchi Manitou roams,

BROODing in the morning mist and near to every heart,

calling us to the dance-- 

the dance of creation remembered 

on a hallowed seventh day;

the dance of Once-Upon-a-Time,                                            

before we spoiled Perfection,

divided and plundered 

and forgot that we are “we,” 

     where the Wild Leek grows                                                         

     and Violets in triple colors raise their lovely heads.   

    

                                               

  

Meditating with Julian of Norwich on the secret of two kinds of love[14]

(as Jesus also describes them in Matthew 22:36-40):

   

    * Note that Julian often compares God's love to mother-like love, a precedent

found in scripture as well.  See Ps. 131; Isa. 49:15-16, 46:3, 42:14, 16, 66:13;

Deut. 32:11-12; Mt. 23: 37-39, all especially in KJV.  Also see Duet. 33:12, ERV.

Note also that Julian gives the proper context for her famous words quoted in 

the last two lines above.  And in regard to the designation "child," see 

Mt. 18:3--other words for this might be "proper humility."     

* * *

(See additional blog posts after the "Notes"--Newer/Older Posts.)

…………………...

Notes:

1. See  our post “The ‘Divine Romance,’ God’s Suffering, and God’s ‘Pathos’ (or ‘Wrath’?)”; http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2018/04/.

2. “Anderson Cooper 360o, CNN, 5/29/18, interview with theologian

Dr. Cornell West.  Also see Harvard Graduate School of Education

“Askwith Forum”; https://www.facebook.com/HarvardEducation/videos/10155292829161387/ (Also

see Note 11 below.)

3. See “God’s Generous ‘Tender Mercies’ (Which We Withhold?)”; https://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2016/07/gods-generous-tender-mercies-which-we.html

4. See Note 3 above.

5. Catherine of Siena: The Dialogue, trans. Suzanne Noffke, O.P. (New

York: Paulist Press, 1980), p. 64 (Dialogue 26).  

6. For discussion of such meditation see “Meditation upon God’s LOVE

Warms Us, Enlightens Us, Helps Us ‘Pass it On’”; https://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2018/04/meditation-upon-gods-love-warms-us.html

7. For discussion of healing, see “Good Friday and Easter—In God’s Embrace”: http://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2016/03/

and “God’s ‘Tender Mercies’ and the World’s (Our) Pain”; https://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2016/10/gods-tender-mercies-and-worlds-our-pain_78.html

8. Quoted in Robert Van de Weyer, ed., Philosophers of the Spirit:

Hildegard (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1997), p. 88 (from Virtues:

A Drama).

9. Meditations, prayer/poetry/proverbs by Lorraine B. Eshleman. 

10. For discussion of such meditation see Note 6 above.

11. See how similar situations existed in Jesus' day, and note how Jesus

threw his lot in with the downtrodden and marginalized: Albert Nolan,

Jesus Before Christianity (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2001). Also see

Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination (Minneapolis: Fortress,

2001).

12. For commentary on such verses see Note 11 above.

13. See God’s Generous “Tender Mercies” (Which We Withhold?); https://sacred-tenderness-christian-tradition.blogspot.com/2016/07/gods-generous-tender-mercies-which-we.html

14. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Grace Warrack

(London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1901, 1949), pp. 158-159 (Chap. 63), Long Text.

Some capitalization added and "Him" changed to "God," as is common in modern usage.