Rochester Cathedral
But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”
Luke 18:13 NLT
In a number of liturgies the words, Kyrie eleieson, Christe eleison are said following the congregational prayer of confession. The words are Greek for: “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.” They are the words used by the tax collector, contrasted with the self-righteous Pharisee.
Mercy is always undeserved. In one story handed down to us we discover a mother pleading with Napoleon Bonaparte to spare her condemned son’s life. The emperor declared that the man’s crime was so awful that justice demanded his life, the mother asked for mercy, and the answer was that the son did not deserve mercy. His mother then pointed out that if he deserved it, it would not then be mercy.
The tax collector understood his need for God. There was no merit he might muster from his life that could be offered up in return for God’s mercy. And he left the Temple justified before God. It is why that prayer has become such a central prayer in the life of the Church. I say it regularly in the form: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It reminds me of my complete dependence upon God and appeals for the healing balm of God’s oil of forgiveness, acceptance and love to sustain my life on earth. And just as I am an undeserved recipient of God’s mercy, so I am invited to extend mercy to all.
It’s all too easy to compare yourself favourably with others. Yet we stand together in need of God’s mercy. It’s the place every human finds themselves, from the thief on the cross alongside Jesus to the rock of the Church, Peter.
QUESTION
How hard do you find it to have mercy on everyone?
PRAYER
Have mercy, Lord, on me, a sinner.
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