Given all the attention the story has received recently you must know at least the outlines of a horrific story out of Massachusetts. A young mother, Lindsay Clancy, killed each of her children not long after the birth of her third child, then cut her own wrists and jumped out of a 2^nd story window in attempted suicide. The tragic aftermath is so very dark –
there are three little bodies buried,
she lives as a paraplegic,
her marriage ended, and
an extended family lives with awful grief.

Her trial ended this week with a hung jury, 11 voting to acquit her by reason of insanity, 1 voting for conviction on murder charges. Such is the complexity of justice.

I listened to people talk about the case this week and heard a range of responses. Some think she should receive a death penalty.
A few suggest she should die an awful death like her children did.
Some think she really was out of her mind and should be treated with compassion.

Ours is a culture that knows little about mercy. “Give’em what they deserve,” we insist. American jails and prisons are full to overflowing. Our political system is in a state of constant war, the ‘win’ valued more than trying to think about the issues with an understanding for the other guy. We take a perverse delight in the fall and/or destruction of the famous, the powerful. 

So, on which side do you tend to lean – for blind justice or tender mercy?

Having known grace, the mercy of God, I desire to lean into it for others. Yes, I find the results of evil often repulsive, and my reflex is to “Give that person what he deserves!”  But, often with a silent prayer, I ask God to forgive me first, and then to create a tender heart in my that is willing to enter the experience of another with the hope of redemption.

What is mercy? It is showing another compassion or forgiveness when it is without your ability to punish or condemn them. It goes beyond withholding judgment out of politeness as in thinking ‘what an idiot’ but not saying it aloud.

Mercy causes a person to consider the needs of the other, to actively pursue the best interest of one that may well justly deserve anger or rejection. Mercy is not to be confused with being naïve or incapable of facing reality like a grandmother who just cannot face up to the truth about her beloved grandson who is a brat for whom she makes all kinds of excuses.

Evil is real. People do awful things, sometimes because they are truly evil, without conscience, consumed by sin’s darkness. It is wrong to excuse all wrong, to ignore the need for justice and judgment, however, we should come to that place carefully, prayerfully, and only after weighing ALL the factors.

Yes, justice is good, but our ‘justice’ is frequently flawed, often colored by self-interest, or fails to account for the context of the actions of another. We need to think about the possibility of redemption or change. We get angry when someone is unkind, or selfish, or hurtful and we want them to pay … except that Jesus calls us to be different. Are you full of mercy? Jesus says that it is a pathway to joy! “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7, NIV)

The mercy to which God calls us is modeled after His own. He knows us inside out, seeing our core motives, knowing even our ‘secret’ sins. And He holds out hope and renewal. “Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever because you delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” (Micah 7:18-19, NLT)

If we keep a careful record of every slight, every hurt, refusing to be merciful – we become a captive of anger, turning into a sour, cynical individual. No wonder Jesus tells us mercy is a choice that leads to ‘blessedness.’

Dear Christian, are you harsh?
Are you quick to judge?
Do you live in the Old Testament law – “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth?”
Are you a critic?
Do you cast blame on others?

Our word from the Word calls us, in the Spirit, to a new way. “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God.

For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.” Don’t let evil get the best of you but conquer evil by doing good.”
(Romans 12:17-21, NLT)   

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Father, help us! It’s hard to let You judge,
to release those who hurt us from our condemnation.
Teach us to be merciful, compassionate, and wise through the Spirit.
In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Video at https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55