Live 4 The LORD

The phrases "Jacob I loved, Esau I hated" and "I give mercy to whom I wish" are rooted in Scripture and have been the subject of theological reflection. Here's a Catholic understanding of these concepts:

Jacob I Loved, Esau I Hated

1. Biblical Context:

   • The quote "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" comes from Malachi 1:2-3 and is also referenced in Romans 9:13 ³.
   • This statement is made in the context of God's choosing of Jacob (and his descendants, the Israelites) over Esau (and his descendants, the Edomites) ^3 5 7.
   • The preference shown to Jacob was not based on any merit of his own, but on God's sovereign will ⁵.

2. Interpretations:

   • Typological Significance: Some Church Fathers saw Jacob and Esau as types or figures representing different groups of people. For example, Jacob could represent Christians, while Esau represents the Jewish people or the ungodly ^1 4 7.
   • God's Sovereignty: The story underscores God's freedom to choose whom He wills for His purposes. As St. Paul says, "that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls" ^3 6.
   • Not Literal Hatred: The "hatred" should not be taken to mean that God had animosity towards Esau. Rather, it indicates a lesser degree of love or preference compared to Jacob ³.
   • Fulfillment in Christ: The Church sees the promise to Jacob fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who reigns over the house of Jacob forever ⁸.

I Give Mercy to Whom I Wish

1. God's Mercy:

   • Mercy is a key attribute of God, revealed throughout the Old and New Testaments ¹⁶.
   • God's mercy is his loving concern for each person, desiring their well-being, happiness, joy, and peace ¹³.
   • Jesus Christ is the face of the Father's mercy, making God's mercy visible and tangible ¹⁶.

2. Divine Freedom:

   • God's mercy is not something that can be earned or demanded; it is a free gift ¹⁷.
   • God extends mercy to those He chooses, and this is an expression of His divine freedom and sovereignty ⁶.
   • As Romans 9:15 states, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

3. Our Response:

   • We are called to be merciful as God is merciful ^13 14 15.
   • Practicing mercy towards others is an essential aspect of Christian life ¹⁸.
   • Forgiving others is a clear expression of merciful love and a condition for receiving God's forgiveness ^13 19.

In summary, while God has shown preference to some and extends mercy as He wills, this does not negate the call for all people to be instruments of His mercy in their interactions with others.

[1] Against Heresies - Book IV Chapter 21. 2

[2] Catholic Encyclopedia Esau

[3] The City of God - Book 16 Chapter 42

[4] Expositions on the Psalms - Psalm 47 5

[5] Fragments from the Scriptural Commentaries of Hippolytus From St. Jerome's Epistle 36

[6] Homily 16 on Romans Chap. ix. Ver. 11-13

[7] Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church: Christ – Our Pascha 26

[8] Misericordiae Vultus - Bull of indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (11 April 2015) 1

[9] Misericordiae Vultus - Bull of indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (11 April 2015) 9

[10] Misericordia et misera 2

[11] General Audience of 21 September 2016: 30. Merciful like the Father (cf Lk 6:36-38) 

[12] General Audience of 18 March 2020 

[13] 30 April 2000, Canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska 4

[14] General Audience of 7 July 1999 5