Introduction. When we hear the word mercy, our minds can move in two directions. Sometimes we see the blind, lame and lepers calling out to Jesus for the mercy that would bring health and healing to them. Other times we hear the publican crying out “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Mk.10:47; Lk. 18:13). Thus we know that we are merciful, when we are helping the needy in their afflictions, or showing compassion to those who have sinned against us. Since those who are merciful in this way are blessed, we need to carefully monitor and enhance our own.
Understanding the emotions and decisions that lead to mercy is the best way to gain more. “In Greek, eleos (mercy) is a pathos (strong emotion) ... roused by contact with an affliction...” (Kittel). During a crisis, pathos (Latin passio) comes unbidden. A death in our family, a terrible accident, the diagnosis of a fatal illness, or a severe financial loss create overwhelming emotions (pathos/passion) of sorrow, grief and loss. Mercy is created when the emotions we feel in a crisis, we also feel when others are in crisis. The Greek had three words to describe our feeling when others are in crisis (pathos/passion). Which one most closely describes our own?
Understanding the emotions and decisions that lead to mercy is the best way to gain more. “In Greek, eleos (mercy) is a pathos (strong emotion) ... roused by contact with an affliction...” (Kittel). During a crisis, pathos (Latin passio) comes unbidden. A death in our family, a terrible accident, the diagnosis of a fatal illness, or a severe financial loss create overwhelming emotions (pathos/passion) of sorrow, grief and loss. Mercy is created when the emotions we feel in a crisis, we also feel when others are in crisis. The Greek had three words to describe our feeling when others are in crisis (pathos/passion). Which one most closely describes our own?
- Apathy – (a -pathos) from “a” (alpha-privative) negates pathos – “feel nothing”
- Sympathy – (sum -pathos) from “sum” (preposition “with,” (Latin: com- passio) – “feel strongly with”
- Empathy – (em -pathos) from “em” (preposition “in” + pathos) – “feel strongly within”