The Quality of Mercy is not Strain'd....

Right now it's Saturday morning, and as I'm browsing news sites I see headlines such as these:

So I decided to do a google search for "Justice for Trayvon", and I see these links:

There's even a facebook page set up:

What exactly is justice? Here's one definition:

Justice (noun): the administering of deserved punishment or reward.

So, depending on your opinion about the events of that tragic day, it would seem that Trayvon Martin supporters are fully justified in seeking for "justice" or making sure that George Zimmerman gets his "deserved punishment".

But then I remembered this speech from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice"

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

Let me repeat this line, because it's worth repeating:

Though justice be thy plea, consider this, that, in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy

Or, as we read in the Bible:

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7)

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. (Proverbs 11:17)

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. (James 2:13)

What is mercy, and why is it so important? Here's one definition:

Mercy (noun): compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence:

Quoting again from "The Merchant of Venice":

But mercy...is an attribute of God himself; and earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice

I personally think that I'd rather have mercy extended to me when the time comes to give an accounting of my life than have my Savior demanding that I face justice. And it seems pretty clear to me that in order to qualify for that blessing, I need to be merciful to others. When we demand justice, we deny the salvation that only mercy can bring. And by extending mercy to others, we have one of those rare opportunities in this life to really be like God.

Now don't get me wrong-I am by no means advocating that we completely do away with laws, consequences, courts, judges, juries, etc. But there will be times when, due to our imperfections as human beings, that the innocent will be punished and the guilty will go free. But let us all be slower to demand justice and quicker to extend mercy, and I think we'll be alright.

And for more on mercy, please read/watch the following:

"My Specialty Is Mercy" -Marion D. Hanks

"The Merciful Obtain Mercy"-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Blessed Are the Merciful"-Gordon B. Hinckley