Oh Mercy

“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender people in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives … and the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals”

Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde to Donald Trump

For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.

James 2:13

The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.

Zechariah 7:8-10

Brothers and sisters –

“I ask you to have mercy.”

These are the extraordinary words spoken by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde to Donald Trump during Inauguration services at the National Cathedral.

Trump, based on his social media rants, was offended by Bishop Budde’s pleas for the powerless and is demanding an apology. Bishop Budde had the courage to speak truth to power, something that always sounds “offensive” to those in power. She spoke with patience and grace. I wonder what it will cost her. There is always a cost to being a follower of Jesus.

Do you ever think about the cost? The risk of following Jesus’ teachings is that you might find yourself at odds with your community, family, even your country. You might lose your reputation, your friends, perhaps even your life.

Understandably, sacrificially following Jesus is something that few choose to do. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing in the shadow of Nazism, wrote:

“Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear … Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now.”

We are still “adjusting ourselves” to the worship of power. We fail to give “offense” and “shock the world” as often as we should, though many were shocked at Bishop Budde’s words.  What I find shocking is that in this “Christian” country we must beg our president to “have mercy.”

I am shocked that this country has elected someone who has shown admiration for Hitler, Mussolini and other dictators. He makes no secret of the fact that he craves unlimited power.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”

Matthew 5:7

It is a comparison that I am reluctant to make, but the similarities between the new administration and its vision of America is eerily reminiscent of Hitler’s Germany. Trump has surrounded himself with white nationalists, and anti-Semites. Elon Musk, who has supported a neo-Nazi group in Germany, even appeared to give the Nazi salute several times during an inauguration parade.

When the institutional church in Germany remained silent, Bonhoeffer, among other people of faith, bravely spoke out against Hitler and his programs of hatred and violence. Believing that their silence would make them culpable in their country’s crimes, Bonhoeffer and people of faith chose to be voices for the voiceless.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I believe that there will be very little mercy displayed by the Trump administration over the next four years. Who will have the courage to protest, to speak out, to be a voice for the voiceless? Who will choose mercy over the worship of power? Who is willing to take Jesus seriously?

[Jesus said] “Go and learn what this means,” ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”(Matthew 9:13)

May God give us courage.