Misericordia Domini

While making final preparations for tomorrow (Good Shepherd Sunday/Misericordia Domini or the Compassionate Love of the Lord), I came across a fascinating quote on the 2nd Article from Luther’s Large Catechism (para. 27-31), where he explains how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has poured out his compassionate love on us by his suffering, death and resurrection, and in so doing has shown himself to be our Lord and our Redeemer.

If anyone asks, “What do you believe in the Second Article about Jesus Christ?” answer as briefly as possible, “I believe that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, has become my Lord.” What is it “to become Lord”? It means that he has redeemed and released me from sin, from the devil, from death, and from all evil. Before this I had no Lord or King, but was captive under the power of the devil. I was condemned to death and entangled in sin and blindness.

For when we were created by God the Father and had received from him all kinds of good things, the devil came and led us into disobedience, sin, death, and all evil. As a result, we fell under God’s wrath and displeasure and were doomed to eternal damnation, just as we had merited and deserved it. There was no counsel, no help, no comfort for us until this only and eternal son of God, in his unfathomable goodness, had compassion upon our misery and wretchedness. He came from heaven to help us. Those tyrants and jailers have now been routed. In their place has come Jesus Christ, Lord of life, righteousness, every blessing, and salvation. He has snatched us poor, lost creatures from the jaws of hell, has won us, has made us free, and has brought us again into the Father’s favor and grace. As his own possession he has taken us under his protection and shelter, so that he may govern us by His righteousness, wisdom, power, life, and blessedness.

Let this, then, be the summary of this article: the little word “Lord” simply means the same as “Redeemer”. It means the One who has brought us from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and who preserves us in the same.

May the Good Shepherd richly bless your celebration of his compassionate love!