Vineyard Evensong Part 12

The next element in our Vineyard Evensong discussion is the “Kýrie, eléison”:

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Τhe phrase “Kýrie, eléison” means Lord have mercy. It has been included in liturgies as far back as the 4th century.
The prayer is both a petition and an offering of thanks. It is an acknowledgment of what God has done, what God is doing, and what He has promised to do. It has its roots in the following scriptures:
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV)
34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 6:2 (NKJV)
2 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
The concept of the “Kýrie, eléison” is reflected in the Parable of the Publican in Luke 18:9-14:
Luke 18:9-14 (NKJV)
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
What is the mercy of God?
Mercy is God not punishing us for our sins, which is what we deserve. Sometimes people confuse mercy and grace. Grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we don’t deserve it. Mercy and grace are demonstrated to us in the now and forever life we can have in Jesus. We have all sinned and therefore deserve judgment.
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
However, if we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we receive God’s mercy and are delivered from judgment. Instead of judgment, we receive salvation, now and forever life by God’s grace.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.
Our response to the mercy and grace of God should be worship and thanksgiving.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.