Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.

“Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.” We’ve sung the words lots of times in lots of settings (I count eight on my phone alone!), and by now we know the translated meaning: “Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy”. But in searching the internet for a devotional on this phrase, I stumbled on a passage from a book called “Gardening the Heart” by Joyce Bellous that looks a bit deeper into the translated meaning:

“The word mercy in English is the translation of the Greek word eleos. This word has the same ultimate root as the old Greek word for oil, or more precisely, olive oil; a substance that was used as a soothing agent for bruises and minor wounds. The oil was poured onto the wound and gently massaged in, thus soothing, comforting and making whole the injured part. The Hebrew word, which also is also translated to eleos and mercy is hesed, and means steadfast love. The Greek words for ‘Lord, have mercy’, are Kyrie eleison, that is to say, Lord, soothe me, comfort me, take away my pain, show me your steadfast love. So mercy does not refer so much to justice or acquittal, the model here is not a courtroom, but the inner rooms of a home where children are embraced and healed. Mercy refers to the infinite loving kindness of God and his compassion for his suffering children! In confidence we pray, ‘Lord have mercy.’”


So based on that passage, when we sing “Kyrie eleison”, it is not so much a sinner’s plea for leniency as it is a sufferer’s plea for loving comfort. We still do need our Father’s mercy, of course, but as we approach Holy Week this coming week, our prayer is to beseech our Heavenly Father to pour out his healing and steadfast love upon us. Let’s bow our heads.

Dear Lord, we come to you tonight as your children, asking you to pour your covenant love over us in the coming Holy Week. We thank you for such meaningful texts as the “Kyrie eleison”, Father, that capture how our spirits yearn for your mighty compassion this season. Bless our singing this upcoming week, Father. Amen.


(source: Gardening the Heart, via Google books)