Mercy Down to the Thousandth Generation

Updated: August 6. 2014

Men's destiny is either a happy or despondent life which all depends on one's loyalty and infidelity of God’s ordinances as a safety net. There are times that a certain life’s condition could not be understood which appears as if the world is against him/her because of subsequent misfortunes that weaken and try one’s patience up to the point of blaming and hating God.

The kind of destiny that humanity is facing today socially, economically, and politically are the effects of the lifestyles of our ancestors/parents made in their lifetime plus the same lifestyle that we copied from them which reflects the society's present condition.

Any event of unhappiness however is not really literally meant to punish human but to chasten, for him/her to recognize and correct the misdeeds of the past and the present.

Others may have the mentality to compare his against the other by asking bitterly like, "Why these people who are not law-abiding citizens continue to be prosperous?" This we should not question because we do not know what lies beyond their transgression. Each ones' role as a Christian is to be cautious and responsible in every action, not to be envious of their affluent crimes because no one is accountable on their behalf except themselves.  By leading and teaching the good example is what we can contribute in the presence of obstinacy.

We enjoy this life despite of our unworthiness because of mercy, but we should not abuse God's goodness because life and mercy are both God's. He has all the power to take what He owns and choose whom He desires to give to.

Exodus 34:6-7 Thus the Lord passed before him and cried out, "The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness for a thousandth generations and forgiving wickedness and crime and  sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but punishing children and grand children to the third and fourth generation for their father's wickedness.

1 Corinthian 11:31-32 If we discerned ourselves, we could not be under judgment, but since we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Hebrew 12:5-6 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves, He disciplines; He scourges every son He acknowledges.

Sirach 5:3-4 Say not: Who can prevail against me? For the Lord will exact punishment. Say not: I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?" for the Lord bides His time.

Looking at the realities of life, every society's thoughts and behavior mirrora man's vision and destiny. Without the guidance and absorption of the Gospel in the hearts of men, there’s the tendency to be oppressive than unblemished existence.

The Church through the Gospel teaches us to have a rejoicing heart that seeks God. Human forgets and rejects Him but He never stops to call every creation to find Him with an effort of mental power and unassailable will so as to embrace “life and happiness”

As intelligent and free creatures, like the angels, every human has to journey toward its ultimate destinies through its will to love and to choose. In cases that man is off track because of moral evil, God is immeasurably gracious that He does not repress one's freedom but respects and waits for the goodness to emerge out of that wrong choice.

Psalm 105:3 Glory in his holy name; let hearts that seek the LORD rejoice!  

For almighty God is supremely good, He would never allow any evil whatsoever to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and good as to cause good to emerge from evil itself. - St. Augustine, Enchiridion 33,11:PL 40,236.