Mercy: Romans 11:25-36, especially vs. 32:
"For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all." Today, we conclude the series of readings in chapters 9-11, in which the Apostle Paul considers the question: Why did not ancient Israel accept God's Messiah and His Kingdom since it was to them that God gave the promise of the Anointed One and His reign on earth?' St. Paul's answer divides into two parts: 1) that "their fall is riches for the world" (Rom. 11:12), and 2) that when "the fullness of the Gentiles has come in...all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:25,26). His teaching is a declaration of the mercy of God Whose judgments are unsearchable "...and [Whose] ways past finding out!" (Rom. 11:33).
May each of us consider God's mercy in his own life. Beloved, whether one is Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, young or old - as the opening quote above declares - God's mercy is "for all" (vs. 32). Mercy is a Divine mystery for us all (vs. 25). Mercy is the Savior known in the
Church, the One Who turns His beloved away from ungodliness (vs. 26) and takes away our sins (vs. 27). Mercy is God's gift, which He is offering now, which we are free to seek or to reject, and His offer of mercy is irrevocable (vs. 29).
Observe: the Apostle calls the mercy of God a "mystery" (vs. 25). Why does he use this term? Primarily because mercy flows from the nature of God Himself. Note the Apostle's quote from the Prophet: "Who has known the mind of the Lord?" (vs. 34 from Is. 40:13). Further, he observes for himself, "How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (vs. 33). In his other letters, the Apostle Paul speaks of the mystery of God. In these, he declares that the mystery was "hidden from ages...but now has been revealed to His saints" (Col. 1:26). Who hid the mystery and who revealed it? God, of course. In these three chapters from Romans, the Apostle firmly establishes that God planned the salvation of all men, for the Lord "has committed...all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all" (Rom. 11:32).
Without being told, we know that the Savior mentioned in vs. 26 is our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Still, let us reflect on the implication of St. Paul's quote from Is. 59:20,21 - that the Lord as Deliverer "will come out of Zion" (vs. 26). Does this mean that He will come physically to the Temple Mount in the City of Jerusalem?
The Church has never understood the coming of the Savior in this way. The Zion referred to is the Church, God's People whom we exhort in the ninth ode of Paschal Canon: "Rejoice and exult now, O Zion." We are exhorting ourselves as the Church, as the Body of Christ, for by the mercy of God we are members of the People of God. In the Body of Christ, we receive the Body of Christ so that we may become the Body of Christ. What greater mercy can we imagine!
What does Christ our God and Savior accomplish through His Church? Truly, He comes to us and turns us away from ungodliness! In the Church, the Scriptures are read and preached. In His Liturgy He comes to us. In our churches He reveals Himself in the icons. In the Church His Mysteries are received. There He encourages us to "complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance." In Him we have peace with God, for, if we confess our sins, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn.1:9).
God has acted irrevocably, once and for all, on behalf of all, having taken our humanity on Himself forever, having died once for us and having broken the ultimate power of death. Now death has no more dominion over Him, nor over any of us who are united to Him. Such is the Great Mercy, which our God is bestowing upon us! To Him "be glory forever. Amen" (vs. 36).
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, even as we have put our hope in Thee.