Is the world becoming more of a place for evil? Or is everyone just too unforgiving...
Justice is defined by "the system of laws in a country which judges and punishes people" or by the "fairness in the way people are dealt with". Justice is just there for us when we each want to get an equal standing in the society. It serves as a means of retribution and the offenders getting their "JUST DESSERTS". We assume that it is always the only way out of a situation. Well I agree to some extent that it does help one to gain back his or her own dignity lost and whatever that he should rightfully receive, but if we rely solely on Justice in our society and not mercy, will we survive long enough until the World ends (You must watch 2012, fabulous show!)?
No. But ironically, if we were just able to live on Mercy alone, I doubt that we will have much miseries... Mercy is defined as the "kindness and forgiveness shown towards someone you have authority over". Which also implies the people who have offended you.As a Christian, I believe that since God has shown us mercy by letting his son, Jesus Christ, die on the cross for our sins so that we can be saved, then we should naturally show mercy to others. Just think about it, we one person accidentally does wrong or maybe even intentionally, if one party is able to just relax, cool down and show mercy by forgiving the offender, then won't everything be solved? The offender is likely to bear that certain guilt in him and will think twice about doing wrong. Despite the victim may seem to be at the losing end, yet he or she will be able to avoid more conflicts should he or she not show mercy.
I feel that mercy is reciprocal. If someone forgives you then it is only right that you forgive others. It is also something that is constantly being passed on. If that someone does not forgive you; does not show you mercy, then you may either choose to be merciful to be someone else or to carry on with the nasty treatment. Quite often it is like a chain reaction; one will will not choose to be merciful for it is just the ways of mankind. But if Jesus was able to bear the countless numbers of humiliation and be harshly and unfairly treated by the rest of the society, and yet be able to show love and mercy to others, then as a Christian, we should also try our best to mould after him.
If the Christians were able to show mercy on Shylock by not insulting him from the start, then I would have guessed that Shylock would not have hated them that much. This would not have triggered his hate for Antonio as well, since he did say that "I hate him for he is a Christian". Without this mutual hate, the trial would not have really started at all. Just imagine if Portia had managed to show mercy to Shylock and let him off with "thrice the sum of money", then there may be a possibility that Shylock might have a varying opinion on the Christians later on.
Who cares about fairness at all! After all, this World is already so unfair... But if we are able to exact mercy unto one another, this would then surely overwrite all the losses and setbacks we may have faced in the past.
Think of the future ahead of us. Think of the Lord. Think of Mercy.
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