Grace and Mercy
A Reflection on A Holy Distinction for a Holy Life
In the language of faith, some words get used so often—and often together—that we start to think they mean the same thing. Grace and mercy are among those. They’re poetic, beautiful, and theological. They show up in hymns, prayers, and blessings. We hear them in the liturgy so frequently that we may forget to pause and ask: what do they really mean? Are they the same?
The short answer is no. Grace and mercy are related, but they are not the same. And understanding the difference can deepen our spiritual lives and reshape how we live in relationship to God—and to one another.
Mercy: Not Getting What You Deserve
Mercy is when you deserve judgment or punishment, but instead receive compassion. Mercy is a withholding. A staying of the hand. A refusal to deal harshly, even when it would be fair.
We see this in the Gospels again and again. Blind Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). He knows he’s powerless, unworthy by society’s standards, but he also knows Jesus is merciful.
Mercy is at the heart of the Cross. In Romans 5:8, Paul writes, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” We deserved judgment; instead, we received Jesus.
The Book of Common Prayer echoes this throughout our worship. In the Rite I confession, we plead: “Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s mercy.
Grace: Getting What You Don’t Deserve
Grace, on the other hand, is a giving. A blessing. It is favor and love poured out not because we’ve earned it, but precisely because we haven’t. It is unmerited, unearned, and unrelenting.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Grace is the feast prepared for the prodigal son. Grace is Jesus handing out loaves and fishes, not after a theological exam, but to the hungry crowd. Grace is the Spirit’s comfort in your soul when you’ve done nothing to “deserve” it.
In the Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion, we say: “And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies… humbly beseeching thee that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may… be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction.” Grace fills. Grace overflows.
God’s Nature is Both Merciful and Gracious. God does not flip a coin and choose one or the other. Scripture reveals both mercy and grace as central to God's very identity. In Exodus 34:6, the Lord passes before Moses and declares: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”
That verse becomes a refrain repeated throughout the Old Testament and echoed in the New. It’s the cornerstone of how Israel understood Yahweh (God)—and how Christians have come to know the Trinity.
Grace and mercy are not just how God acts—they are who God is.
Living Lives Marked by Grace and Mercy can be transformative for us. Recognizing both of these gifts in our own lives helps us better embody them for others. There are moments when someone in our life deserves harshness or rejection—and we choose mercy. There are other moments when we give them love, encouragement, or generosity that they haven't earned—and that’s grace.
In parenting, we withhold the punishment our child might deserve (mercy), and then give them an undeserved hug and reminder of our love (grace).
In church life, we overlook the sharp or harsh word from a fellow human sinner (mercy), and then offer inclusion and invitation into community (grace).
In public life, we resist cynicism and condemnation of poor leadership (mercy), and instead build communities of healing and justice (grace).
Mercy builds a foundation. Grace builds the house. Both are required if we are to reflect the love of God in the world.
May we never confuse mercy with grace again—because in learning the difference, we gain double the blessing of God’s everlasting presence in our lives.
And may we give as we have received!
Pax et Bonum!
Fr. Ben +
