Long-ago Sunday Mornings
As a noun, grace can mean simple elegance as in she danced on the stage with effortless grace. In Christian belief, grace refers to the undeserved but freely given favor of God as shown in the salvation of sinners. Grace is also polite behavior as in the social graces, or the extra time allowed for a payment as in a week’s grace period. It’s a short prayer of thanks or a form of addressing royalty as in her Grace the Duchess. As a verb, grace means to do honor by one’s presence as in she graced the world of tennis for two decades before retiring.
As a noun, mercy refers to the giving of compassion or forgiveness, “Have mercy on us, O Lord.” It’s an event to be grateful for when we say a sick man’s death was a mercy or an act that relieves suffering, as in the doctors’ journey to assist the wounded was a mission of mercy. We sometimes find ourselves at the mercy of the elements or grateful for small mercies or we throw ourselves at someone’s mercy.
Out of all these definitions for grace and mercy, the religious ones come to mind first, probably because I’ve so often heard them used in church settings. But as I consider this particular context, I’m aware of a familiar discomfort. I took seriously what I heard from the pulpit and the choir loft during Sunday mornings of my youth and because of that, questions sometimes arose. Now decades later, I can still recall some of them:
If God really loves us, then why do we ask God to have mercy on us? Why does God have to be reminded God loves us? Why do some people say grace before they eat? Will God’s feelings be hurt if we fail to thank God for our food each and every time we eat? How can grace be withheld until we recite a few words of confession and acceptance? Is God like an overpowering, impatient parent, always getting mad about something people did or didn’t do? Is God mad at us because of who we are: descendants of two people who ate an apple long before we were born?
In many ways, Community Baptist Church was a good church to grow up in. I have happy memories of church suppers, decorations in the sanctuary at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, familiar hymns and times together with friends. But for all its warmth, there were also conflicting messages. Now, years later, I have a better understanding of the religious quandaries being presented to us with good intentions. At the same time, I remember feeling perplexed, and sometimes frightened, on those long-ago Sunday mornings when I would hear about God’s gifts of grace and mercy but also the implication of the punishment that awaits us if we didn’t accept them.
“Mercy and Grace” Fine Art America painting by Jen Ka Ki
