Few qualities are more endearing in a person than mercy: tender compassion towards those less powerful. Whether it’s a friend bringing a meal to a sick friend, a father holding his newborn child in his arm, or a war nurse tending a soldier’s wounds, kindness is a transcendent quality for a community’s well-being.

The alternative is repulsive. Exploitation, intimidation, and oppression are reprehensible behaviours. Most people in our world agree with this. They are certainly not behaviours anyone can openly endorse. Some of history’s most atrocious moments are marked by them. Yet, these behaviours continue to be prolific in our world, perhaps in increasingly subversive ways. The armchair narcissist, for example, perpetually uses covert aggression to achieve his self-serving desires. Abuse of power flourishes under a masquerade of charm. Poisonous. Deceptive. Dangerous.

Tenderness, however, has a deep regard for the weak, and Psalm 41 upholds it as an abiding virtue. The Psalmist himself is painfully aware of his weakness. But rather than having the support of those around him, he is mocked, reviled and even betrayed. What he needs from those around him is compassion; what he gets is cruelty.

God, however, demonstrates no such cruelty. Over against the self-obsessed world, God, in his mercy, delivers, protects, preserves, guards, sustains, and restores the weak. He does not exploit, intimidate or oppress them.  He cares for them in power and love.  God’s kindness is the Psalmist’s comfort.

Jesus displays this so profoundly.  Matthew’s Gospel describes Jesus’ “gut-wrenching” compassion for the crowds on several occasions (Matt 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34). Like sheep without a shepherd, the people had been neglected by their leaders. “They were harassed and helpless” (Matt 9:36), hungry (Matt 14:14; 15:32), and crying out for mercy (Matt 20:34). Stirred by their needs rather than by his own selfish desire, Jesus attended to them.

The world has never seen someone as powerful as Jesus, but neither have we seen anyone so tender and kind.  May we always take our lead from him as we entrust ourselves to his mighty and merciful care daily.