Mercy

Jesus tells his disciples the story of the persistent widow to encourage them “to always pray and not give up.” We are not always told the meaning of one of Jesus’s teachings so clearly; yet even in its clearest, simplest form, this teaching can be difficult to follow. Many obstacles attempt to deter us from persistent prayer. Ultimately, Jesus’s encouragement “to always pray and not give up” is an invitation to abide in God’s presence. Unlike the unjust judge, the Lord hears our prayers in love, and His faithfulness sustains us through all the injustice we suffer on Earth.

One of Jesus’ most well-known stories tells the tale of a man who was attacked by robbers and left for dead on the side of a road. The surprising twist in the story is who comes to help him, and this raises important questions for us today about how we live our lives.

Esther is a story of reversals, but never more so than in the story’s final twist. In a moment of political intrigue, Esther devises one final counter-decree to secure her people’s future. This moment points us to Jesus Christ, who was God’s counter-decree of love in the face of the powers of death and despair.

Maintaining perspective is so difficult. Just getting through the day can seem like a major accomplishment. But a healthy perspective gives us a vantage point that’s essential to living a life that prioritizes what’s truly important.

Healthy relationships are key to building a great life. So how do we deal with the pain often experienced there? What role is forgiveness supposed to play? How do we do that authentically when it’s especially difficult for us?

Essential to spiritual growth is going out of our way to care for the practical needs people face. We can sacrificially enter in to other people’s suffering because Jesus did so for us at great cost.