The Tender Mercy of Our God

One of the traditional canticles at Morning Prayer is the Song of Zechariah, the Benedictus, the poignant words of Zechariah in Luke 1:68-79 about God’s promises in Holy Scripture, and the role of Zechariah’s son John the Baptist in preparing the way for the long-awaited Savior.

The beautiful canticle culminates this way:

“Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us; To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

I wonder: do you think of God as having “tender mercy”?

This can be difficult to grasp. Some translations render these words “compassion,” but I prefer the Prayer Book’s Rite One (inspired by the King James’ translation) language of “tender mercy.” It’s striking to imagine the Almighty, who made the heavens and the earth, as not only merciful but tenderly so.

This is no throwaway line. The theme of a merciful God is throughout the second half of Luke, Chapter One, appearing five times from verses 50 to 78. Luke the Evangelist and Apostle is trying emphatically to tell us something about what God is doing in the incarnation, becoming human in Jesus. Luke is trying to get our attention, to point our focus to the abundant mercy of God, embodied in Christ Jesus.

My friends in Christ in Oklahoma: this Christmas, amidst all the challenges in our lives, our nation, and our world, may we find comfort and joy in knowing that we have a God who loves us, not in some abstract or distant way, but with a tender mercy.

Our world can be cruel, seemingly rewarding those who promote themselves, as they neglect and harm others. But our faith shows us a better way. Our God came near to us in Jesus Christ as a child in a humble stable, to share our vulnerable humanity, to show us, once for all, that our God cares more than we can even imagine. And we, likewise, are to show not just politeness, or concern, but tender mercy to others, even when it is inconvenient or costly to us.

Friends, our Advent season of holy preparation has come to an end, and the 12 day celebration of our Savior’s birth is beginning. Merry Christmas, and thanks be to God for God’s tender mercy towards us, and for all the world. O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!

The Rt. Reverend Poulson Reed

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma