If you grew up in a Lutheran tradition, you may recall a time when the “Third Sunday of Easter” was called “Misericordia Domini.”    To a young person, those words didn’t mean much, but they did have a nice ring to them.  Misericordia, meaning mercy or compassion.  Domini, meaning Lord & master.  Yes, it was a Sunday focused on our Lord’s unending mercy and compassion for us.   Interestingly enough, I also found that in the Middle Ages, a misericordia was a thin bladed dagger used to give the death wound to a fallen adversary.   Quite a different context, but in its own way, an act of mercy.

In this Easter season, we lean on God’s compassion.  The picture of Jesus’ compassion on that cross is so vivid.  We look at His brutal suffering, His cruel death, His divine resurrection.   For centuries people have asked why.   He could have avoided it.  Yet, not for Himself, but for us He gave Himself up to His Father’s plan.   Such compassion and mercy we cannot fathom, we can only bow before Him with thanks and praise.

Hallelujah!   He loved us.   Hallelujah!  He has saved us from ourselves.  Hallelujah! He loves us still, unconditionally.   Hallelujah! 

Judy