Enduring Love and Mercy
Reflection: Alternate translations for our psalm refrain today include “his mercy
endures forever” and “his loving-kindness is without end.” These variations tell us something about the rich meaning of the original Hebrew term, hesed.
First and foremost, hesed is not a feeling but a way of being. It is the very nature of God, who is the fullness of loving mercy. Every action of God on behalf of those in need (and aren’t we all in need?) is an act of unmerited mercy. Not having earned this loving-kindness, we can only receive it in gratitude.
Second, God’s hesed is not a rare or even an occasional kindness. It is everlasting and enduring. It is tenacious even in the face of ingratitude, wrapping us like a garment that is needed in the event of storms or enjoyed in the light of calm sunrises. God’s mercy holds us close even when we are unaware of it.
In a great act of mercy, Jesus willingly dies and rises to show us that death never has the final word, not only for him but for all of us. Death in the form of self-doubt
receives the mercy of knowing one’s worth. Death as disobedience to God’s law
receives the mercy of forgiveness and firm resolve. Death in terms of violence
receives the mercy of compassion and self-control.
The Easter season invites us to meditate on our God who not only gives love and mercy but is love and mercy.
Meditation: Many of us grew up with images of God that failed to account for God’s loving-kindness. Rather than appreciating the liberation of slaves in Egypt and the giving of the Ten Commandments as an act of God’s mercy, for example, we may have focused on a God who demands obedience. Instead of understanding God’s desire to form a people as characterized by mercy and justice, we may have thought of God as a friend to some and an enemy to others. The Easter season invites us to see God through the lenses of hesed and new life.
Prayer: O God whose mercy endures, use our efforts to reach
those who are in most need of faith in your goodness.
From Daily Reflections for Easter to Pentecost (Rejoice and Be Glad 2025) by Catherine Upchurch
