The Bible and Psychology – Jesus' Mercy

The eighth psychological portrait I have to convey is that of Jesus. Uh, how does a believer properly share his impressions of the psychology of Jesus? This is matter for fear and awe. Well, I will remember that Jesus “meek and humble of heart”, and that God is love.

The first thing I want to say about Jesus is: no one can contain him except that he allows it. I take this on faith. But I have experienced him, as have countless other I know, and multitudes I have never met, as the very best guy ever. By this I mean that if just one person is the perfect combination of every character virtue and personality strength, Jesus is that person. Most of all, when I think of Him, he is kindly. In the Catholic Church, today is called the Feast of Divine Mercy. It comes the Sunday after Easter Sunday, and was declared by Pope John Paul the II to remind all people of God’s greatest attribute: His Mercy.

Jesus’ message was all about mercy. His deeds, words, and actions were informed by God’s plan of mercy. Even when Jesus is harsh, or giving a rebuke, or otherwise not ‘easy to accept’ as he wasn’t for so many, he does these things for people who need to hear what they don’t want to hear. God is just, everything God does is true and right. Jesus tells us, as a human being just like us, and God’s son, what God’s heart is: mercy, forgiveness, and love.

The point of this series was inspired by a prayer last week. I had written the first two entries in early February, around a time of stress. I had been ‘sitting’ on these and attending to the usual cares of a graduate student. However, on Easter Sunday, I had a sense I needed to share my little part of what I can see with others. God’s light and love is not ‘just for me’ – it is the thing most to be shared of all.

My personal role and hope were spurred a little more as I read a passage (Book of Revelation), where the Risen Jesus sends a message to a church of that time that it is “neither hot or cold”. This passage struck me and I felt I had to do something. The instructions for what to do are right below in the same passage: “I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich”, and “white garments, that your shameful nakedness might not be exposed”, and “ointment for your eyes that you may see”. Learning virtue from these Biblical men is the gold that I seek. Describing it leads to living it: that's what you get to keep. The priceless virtue that Christ has to offer is salvation. It defeats the sorrow of being eternally accursed. Today is the Feast of Divine Mercy (in some time zones, still). Glory Be!