“Forgiving people who have offended us is not easy. We must ask the Lord to share with us the grace of Divine Mercy”, says Pope Francis. We need the grace of the Holy Spirit to be merciful to others as God is merciful to us. What does it mean to be merciful? BETTY AMUKPO asks. Some children respond thus:
‘To be merciful means you show mercy to one another’
To be merciful means you show mercy to one another. If God is to forgive us our sins, then we too should extend that act of mercy to others. Bible Passage: Luke 6:36: “Be merciful even as your Father is merciful.” James 2:13: “For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.” Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy”.
• Ojimmadu Sandra
‘Being merciful is being kind even to those who have wronged us’
The Bible has a lot to say about being merciful. The word “mercy” means showing compassion or forgiveness to someone who has done wrong. According to the Bible, we should be merciful because God is merciful to us. Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” And James 2:13 says, “Mercy triumphs over judgement.” So, being merciful is not just about being nice – it’s about following God’s example and being kind even to those who have wronged us.
• Blossom Akalezi
‘Do a small deed of mercy today, expecting nothing in return’
Mercy is an act of love done without expecting anything in return; it is done for love itself. For me, to be merciful simply means, I should imitate our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear friends, let us do a small deed of mercy today, expecting nothing in return, and done out of love of God. Let us be merciful to others as the Father is merciful to us! (Luke 6:36).
• Sharon Okonkwo
‘Someone who is merciful is willing to be kind and have the heart of forgiveness’
To be merciful means to forgive, to have pity, compassion and kindness towards people. God showed us mercy by sacrificing His only Son Jesus Christ to pay the price of our sins. To be merciful is a divine attribute of God’s nature. He is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) and His mercy is great (2 Samuel 24:14). Jesus is the most merciful. He shows His mercy to those who are suffering through healing, He cared for those in distress. To be merciful, one has to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter, visit the sick and prisoners and bury the dead. Someone who is merciful is willing to be kind and have the heart of forgiveness. God’s mercy is our salvation.
• Anita Chima
‘Show compassion to those in distress’
To be merciful means to show compassion to those in distress (Matthew 5: 7), especially when it is within one’s power to punish or harm them. Mercy appears in the Bible as it relates to forgiveness, or withholding punishment (James 2:13). For example, God the Father showed Mercy on us when He sacrificed His son, Jesus Christ on the Cross to pay the price for our sins.
• Stephen Victory
‘Jesus teaches us to be merciful just as our Heavenly Father is merciful’
To be merciful means to show compassion and forgiveness towards those who are in need or have wronged us. In the Bible, Jesus teaches us to be merciful just as our Heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” This emphasises the importance of showing mercy to others as a reflection of God’s love and grace towards us.
• Arnold Akalezi
‘As Christians we should not bear grudges and always forgive’
Mercy means to forgive or withhold punishment. Another word for mercy is compassion. We have to be merciful to our offenders always, because God the Father showed mercy on us when He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ on the Cross to pay the price for our sins. Isaiah 9:17… Hope would come first to those who suffered most. As Christians, we should not bear grudges, and we should always forgive.
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘Practicing God’s virtue of mercy leads to blessings’
Mercy in the Bible refers to forgiving or withholding punishment. God’s mercy represents who He is, and involves His provision of forgiveness, healing and redemption. Practicing God’s virtue of mercy leads to blessings and rewards from God. Christians need God’s mercy for healing and forgiveness of sins. Psalms 119:77 says “May your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.”
• Chioma Raphael
‘Mercy has the connotation of forgiveness, benevolence and kindness’
Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one’s power to punish or harm them. The word “mercy” derives from the medieval Latin mercedis or merces, which means “price paid.” It has the connotation of forgiveness, benevolence and kindness.
• Adigwe Chisom
‘Being merciful is not inflicting punishment that a person’s actions may warrant’
Being merciful means being compassionate, forbearance, sympathetic consciousness of another’s distress and a desire to alleviate it, instead of inflicting punishment that the person’s actions may warrant. For example, God the Father showed mercy on us when he sacrificed his Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross to pay the price for our sins. God shows His mercy to those who are suffering through healing, comfort, the alleviation of suffering and caring about those in distress. He acts with compassion and mercy. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the merciful” (Matthew 5:7), and “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36). So being merciful means being compassionate in all circumstances.
• Victoria Okefe
‘For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy’
Mercy appears in the Bible as it relates to forgiveness or withholding punishment. For example, God the Father showed mercy to us when He sacrificed his Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross to pay the price for our sins. Luke 6:36 states, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful,” while James 2:13 says, “For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement. It is written in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
• Okononfua Bryan
