Moments with the Gospel Series: The Tender Mercy of God

 Moments With The Gospel

Moments with the Gospel series;

The Tender Mercy of God

As I was meditating on Luke 1:78 Gospel for Christmas Even ( morning Mass, the expression the word tender leapt off the page. I wanted to savour it more.

“The tender mercy of our God…” (Luke 1:78)

First, notice that Scripture does not just say mercy.
It says tender mercy. Those adjective matters.

Let us turn our attention to What tender is not.

1. What tender is not

Tender is not:

• Harsh
• Rushed
• Impatient
• Distant
• Clinical

God’s mercy is not administered like a verdict or a transaction.
It is not “You are forgiven, now move on.”

2. The feel of the word tender

Tender is a felt word.  It evokes:

• A hand placed gently, not gripping
• A wound being touched carefully, not pressed
• A voice lowered, not raised
• A closeness that knows fragility

Tender assumes vulnerability in the one being touched.

God does not approach us as if we are sturdy.
He approaches us knowing we are easily bruised.

3. The original sense (why Luke chose this word)

The Greek word Luke uses (splanchna) refers to the deep inner organs — the gut, the womb, the place where emotion is physically felt. Think about that for a few moments- deep inner organs…that is where God wishes to gives us His tender mercy.

This is not surface kindness. This is mercy that:

• aches
• stirs
• moves from deep within

God’s mercy is visceral. It comes from His depths toward ours.

 

4. Tender mercy at the manger

Now place this word beside Christmas.

God does not arrive: with force, with volume, with dominance Rather He arrives as an infant, unable to speak, unable to defend Himself, dependent on human care- the care of Mary His mother and Joseph his step father.  He has no royal throne but born in a stable amongst the animals. That is tender mercy embodied.

God does not shout forgiveness from heaven.
He lies in straw and gazes on the world with His tender mercy.

5. Tenderness assumes time

Tender things cannot be rushed.

You don’t rush tending a baby, don’t rush touching a wound or don’t rush comforting grief

The tender mercy of God moves at our pace, not His power.

This is mercy that waits for us to be ready.

6. A Christmas Eve invitation

Perhaps today’s Gospel is not asking us to do anything. Perhaps it is asking us to:

• stop bracing
• stop explaining
• stop proving
• stop holding ourselves together

And to let ourselves be treated tenderly by God Even — especially in the places we hide.

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