There
are religious, cultural and gender differences in the way people understand and
practice of mercy. “Mercy, seen in feminine terms, is the tender love of
a mother who, touched by the frailty of her newborn baby, takes the child into
her arms and provides everything it needs to live and grow (rahamim). In
masculine terms, mercy is the steadfast fidelity of a father who constantly
supports, forgives and encourages his children to grow.”
Earlier
in the year I began to analyze stories from different cultures and religions
that offer a feminine model of mercy and compassion. I found that compassion is
similar to, but not exactly the same as, mercy. Like compassion mercy is
a response prompted by an empathetic awareness of the suffering of
another. But, unlike compassion, mercy has to do with perceptions
of social standing and power. Compassion can be shown by any creature
towards another, regardless of the relative position of the giver and receiver
in the hierarchical or economic structures of society.
Mercy
implies that the giver possesses power or social standing to forgive or exact punishment
upon another. According to Christian belief mercy is an attribute of God
the Father, Jesus the Savior, and the Holy Spirit. Catholics further
believe that the Blessed Mother perfectly exemplifies that aspect of the divine
through the graces bestowed upon her by her Son, Jesus Christ. Mary
models for us how to be merciful in daily human life. In Buddhist tradition
mercy is an attribute of the bodhisattva, one who sets aside
self-interest and personal power out of compassionate interest in furthering
the enlightenment of all sentient beings.
