THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY Session 2 Mercy in Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition

BIBLE AND TRADITION Catholics believe in two sources of revelation about God – The Bible Word of God Biblical scholarship Make sure you have one (and a Catholic one) – ‘Tradition’ – theologians, councils of the Church, popes Catechism of the Catholic Church Ongoing, living Magisterium

MERCY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Two main Hebrew words for it: – Hesed Hosea 6:6, Exodus 34:6, Jeremiah 31:3 (devout = hasidim) Moral faithfulness: covenant relationship – Rahamīm Isaiah 49:15, Genesis 20:13 (womb = rehem) Mother – child love

MERCY AND THE ‘PSYCHOLOGY’ OF GOD The quality of mercy tells us something about God: how he is revealed He is always faithful to himself God’s anxious love for the sinner results in mercy (hānan ) = grace: a constant predisposition to be generous and benevolent Other ideas: hāmal (‘spare’), hūs (‘pity’)

MERCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Jesus is the revelation of God’s mercy Gospel of Luke above all – Benedictus, The Song of Zechariah – Parables of Jesus only found in Luke: Good Samaritan Prodigal Son

MERCY IN CATHOLIC TRADITION I: St Augustine of Hippo 4 th -5 th century bishop and theologian ‘Theologian of the love of God’ Mercy of God in the Confessions (9.1; 10.28) Incarnation symbolises humility and mercy Influence on Martin Luther

MERCY IN CATHOLIC TRADITION II: St John Paul II 1980 Encyclical: Dives in Misericordia (‘Rich in Mercy’) – ‘He who sees me sees the Father’ – Christ’s declaration as Messiah – Mercy in the Old Testament – Prodigal Son – Paschal Mystery ‘Mother of Mercy’ – ‘..from generation to generation...’ Sources of uneasiness – Mission of the Church Unity v. human divisions – Prayer of the Church