About twelve years into their marriage Libby and Matt realized Matt was an alcoholic. They struggled with it for twelve more years until Matt died. It was a tough way to be married, to raise a family. Matt went through treatments, jobs, therapists, and friends. Libby never gave up hope—until the day she found Matt dead. Sometimes she tried tough love, but mostly she aimed at mercy. Sometimes she just put one foot in front of the other.
After Matt died, Libby wondered: what should I have done differently? She had always believed that one day Matt would give himself over to God enough to kick the addiction . If she had divorced Matt when he returned to drinking after he lost the first job—would that have made a difference? Did her mercy hurt Matt instead of help him? Certainly some people thought so. It felt like she had wasted a lot of love and a lot of years. Her mercy had not born the fruit she wanted. Was it wasted?
This may seem like a strange way to begin a reflection on today’s Scripture readings, but I hope you will see how it fits. We have all most likely been like Libby in that we have shown mercy to people who were not changed by the reception. We have probably all given love that seemed to disappear into a black hole. Were our efforts misguided? Was our mercy wasted?
That is an underlying question in both our Hebrew scripture and Gospel readings. In the Gospel Jesus is deeply discouraged. His cousin John (the Baptist) has just sent word to Jesus from prison, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” John and Jesus had started out together. Now Jesus was on his own. Today Jesus is reflecting on the effect he is having. It isn’t what he wanted.
From reading a variety of texts written in Jesus day, scholars tell us there was a widespread belief that when enough of the Jewish people had repented of sin and turned toward God, the Messiah would come. That was the repentance that John was preaching. To be part of that groundswell of repentance was at least a part of the reason Jesus was baptized by John. And, indeed, you could make a good case that Jesus’ baptism was the tipping point—he was the Messiah, and from his baptism he began to manifest his Messiahship. As he did, he preached with John, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Now John was in prison. Jesus had taught, healed, cast out demons. He had so many conversations that were supposed to lead people to so clearly see the Father’s mercy that they would reform their lives. People were amazed, but today Jesus sees they were not led to the repentance he expected. Jesus then sent his disciples out to do the same. Yet people did not change their ways.
Jesus’ words today are harsh: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum…”
Jesus has given much mercy, and it seems to be wasted.
A similar situation happens in today’s first reading from Isaiah.
This reading is about the reign of King Ahaz in Judah. At this time the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah were fighting each other. The events behind today’s reading are described in more detail in 2 Kings 15:29-16:20 and in 2 Chronicles 28. King Pekah of Israel and King Rezin of Aram had ganged up on Judah. King Ahaz, “who did not do what is right in the sight of the Lord,” sought to ally with Assyria for protection.
When he went to talk with the Assyrian king, he liked the looks of the Assyrian altars (which were probably to the Assyrian god Molech) and copied them. This, needless to say, did not please Yahweh. Nonetheless, God saved Ahaz and the people from a siege of Jerusalem. Isaiah describes this threat today. God sends Isaiah to tell Ahaz that he should not be afraid because Jerusalem will stand, though the other nations will soon fall.
God kept his word. Jerusalem was safe. But Ahaz did not repent. He continued to permit and participate in worship of other gods. In fact, he grew more bold in his worship of multiple gods.
God’s mercy seemed to be wasted.
But can mercy be wasted?
Does mercy that does not bear the fruit intended bear fruit elsewhere? Tomorrow we will hear Jesus thank the Father for the work he has been sent to do with as much fervor as we hear today of his discouragement. The next day we will hear him speak the message of the Sacred Heart, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened…” It almost seems that Jesus’ capacity for mercy and his recognition of its importance grows as he takes his discouragement to prayer.
His cry of discouragement today must have led him to a deeper appreciation that mercy always flows from the love of the Father. The Father must have replenished Jesus’ supply.
While God’s mercy to Ahaz did not lead Ahaz to repentance, did it have an effect on Ahaz’ son, Hezekiah? Hezekiah “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” When he was faced with a siege of Jerusalem he went to the temple, laid it out before God, and God delivered him. (see 2 Kings 19 or the meditation from June 21). Was Hezekiah’s faith the fruit of God’s mercy to Ahaz?
Maybe. Perhaps Hezekiah realized he had been saved to become king because of God’s mercy to his father. Perhaps Jerusalem was saved in his day because of the mercy he realized he received.
That leads us back to Libby and Matt. Was Libby’s mercy misdirected or wasted? Is ours? It seems from looking at the scriptures today that that might depend on how much of Libby’s mercy was the mercy of God to Matt extended through her. When mercy comes from God it can be tough or gentle, but it is guided by seeking the good of the other. Not the comfort. The good. If it is of God it will bear fruit somewhere, sometime.
What should we do when we feel discouraged about our efforts to bear fruit for God through mercy?
Probably, just what Jesus is doing today: name our disappointment to the Father….and then, do what Jesus does tomorrow and what the psalmist does today: give praise: “Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised” reads Psalm 48. When we give praise we bond ourselves more tightly to God—which will make us a better conduit for God’s mercy.
When we show mercy in the hope that it will cause others to repent, it is good to remember that even Jesus did not always bear fruit as he expected. Human freedom remains. Repentance is a choice. But our role is to express God’s mercy through our merciful acts and prayers.
Prayer:
Lord, continue to be merciful to me, a sinner. As I cry out to you when I am discouraged, lead me to also praise you. As I praise you, fill me with awareness of how good you have been to me. Then strengthen me to hope that mercy is never wasted. Sooner or later it will bear fruit. Amen.
Today’s readings: Isaiah 7:1-9; from Psalm 48; Matthew 11:20-24.
