Mercy and Pity

The primary difference between pity and mercy is the source of each.

In pity, it is I who have pity on another. Thus, I situate myself above him, judging him and his situation, and so taking from him human agency and even human dignity.

In mercy, the source is God. I remain on the same level with the one on whom I have mercy. I acknowledge that both of us are under the mightiness of the Creator, and I have mercy on him who is my brother because he is made of the same human flesh that I am made of.

Pity stems from a world of separation, in which I detach myself from the other, see him outside of me, and even rejoice that I am not him. The pharisee has pity: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). Someone who has pity doesn’t see persons, but categories to which people belong.

Mercy stems from perceiving the other’s wounds as manifestations of my sins and thus from being ready to be with him in his pain and sorrow. Someone who has mercy sees the person suffering beneath wounds.

Have mercy on me in my pity.