There’s been a bit of a controversy in our country lately. A new president was sworn in and one of the activities of the day was a prayer service. This is a tradition in American politics going back to 1937. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington was tasked with leading the inaugural prayer.
This is where the controversy comes in. Before offering her prayer, during a short sermon, she challenged the new president, Donald Trump, to be merciful. Her words, as reported by NBC News were this,
“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Budde, who was looking directly at the president. “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families. Some who fear for their lives. They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues.”
Mercy. She asked him to have mercy. She spoke up for marginalized groups. Both of these things are foundational Christian principles. So why the controversy? Mainly because the newly inaugurated president didn’t take the admonition very well, even though he has claimed to be a Christian himself.
Trump’s response, which he posted on his social media company Truth Social, was to call Budde a “so-called Bishop” and “Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.” (Reported in the same NBC article cited above.) And he demanded she apologize.
The Episcopal Church continues to support Budde, releasing a statement that says, “We stand by Bishop Budde and her appeal for the Christian values of mercy and compassion.” (https://www.christiancentury.org/news/trump-demands-apology-episcopal-bishop-explains-her-call-mercy-toward-those-living-fear)
Budde’s response to Trump was that she felt no need to apologize for her remarks, although she regretted that it caused the response that it did, but that the response confirmed what she was speaking of earlier in her sermon, “our tendency to jump to outrage and not speak to one another with respect”.
Mercy. From Shakespeare we get the phrase, “the quality of mercy is not strained”. It comes from The Merchant of Venice (act 4, scene 1). The character, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, begs Shylock to show mercy to Antonio. Arguing that mercy is an attribute of God and because God is merciful to us, we should be merciful to others. The powerful above anyone should be merciful, Portia argues, as the power of earthly rulers is temporary and mercy supersedes that rule.
“The thronèd monarch better than his crown.
His scepter 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 sceptered sway.
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God Himself;”
The Bible tells us to be merciful, just as God is merciful (Luke 6:36), that Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful (James 2:13), and that those who are merciful will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7).
Budde’s remarks speak for themselves and highlight her character. So do Trump’s.
May we be merciful.
Sascanda Publishing 
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