Dante V Canto XV Scene II

 Canto XV

Third Terrace; “beati misericordes”l

Scene II

3  beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum
4  beati mites quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram
5  beati qui lugent quoniam ipsi consolabuntur
6  beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam quoniam ipsi saturabuntur
7  beati misericordes quia ipsi misericordiam consequentur
8  beati mundo corde quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt

Translated to English.

3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Dante remembered part of the song but not in its entirety but he knew being merciful was part of God’s lessons for living. God’s plan stems from His merciful love for His people. Knowing there was nothing we could do to earn our way into His presence, He made a way through the crucifixion of Christ. Defeating death, Jesus opened up access to God for us. Through prayer, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit living in us, each day brings fresh new mercy. Every morning, God is faithful, even though every day, we fall short. Mercy is God’s gift to the repentant heart. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-mercy-and-why-do-we-need-it.htmlP).

The following verses define this element of God’s love:

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5 NIV)

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5 NIV)

“A fitting message on the merciful.” Dante voiced out. He then looked at Virgil.

“Why wouldn’t we the living have more of that?” Dante’s thoughts switched to the conflict of the Federation and Empire. “If we only learn to share but we had heard that sharing cannot have a part.”

“You are referring to Hamlet in the last Terrace.” Virgil looked at Dante. “When a person desired something, that can be divided up, the portion will be smaller and it may inspire envy. If that is harbored in the soul, then it must be purged for the one to reach the side of God.”

“You are referring to Heaven.” Dante was amused that Virgil was telling him of an issue rarely discussed by them. “I never thought of you to believe in it. Your soul or rather your creator’s soul lies in Limbo for he ---may fear to venture forth.”

“But I did.” Virgil snapped back. “God embraced love and sharing of it to the many. That is what you find in Heaven. It’s the final destination of any soul to be there.”

“Not as a construct in a program but for the real soul in its journey,” Dante spoke out plainly.

“You mock me again. I communicate not for myself but for my creator who remained in Limbo. He should venture forth and reach Heaven. I am the construct here.” Virgil's expression was seen to be agitated. “When we meet Beatrice, then the message will be clearer.”

“I was not. I was merely stating the ---facts of the condition.” Dante defended himself. “I do –”

“If I may ---” The Angel wanted to intervene but was told off by Virgil.

“I am –” The Angel hit back before Virgil could complete the statement.

“I may caution you that if your retort is seen to be wrathful, then you may not proceed. We are all bound by the conditions set in the program. Acceptance is the key to moving on.” 

That caution stopped Virgil in his tracks. He was to speak when Dante cut in.

“Virgil is my companion and guide. He is not the one to be ---cleared but myself, who is the one who was assigned to do the task.” Dante set right the role there. “And I accepted the lesson learned at the last Terrace. I had my sins of envy but had lapsed inside me since then. I am prepared to move on.”

Dante wanted to move on so that he can erase the ‘P’ on his forehead. But doubt was created in his mind. He looked at the Angel. He was surprised that the others revealed that they are in a program. His thoughts that the Angels they met are there as part of the program but could it be they may be the rogue routines in the program to allow them to move on past the terraces. They may not be seen by the other trapped souls there. He sighed in his thoughts.

“Could it be I am led by the program with the Angels that appears here? I may be misled but it was uncanny to encounter the Angels.” Dante muttered to himself. He felt trapped then.

“Poet, we are given the path to move on. Can we move on now?” Virgil had spoken to Dante. “Are you with me?”

Dante looked to the one who was his companion. His mind was in self-doubt then as the few times he felt in Hell.

“I ---” Dante was unable to decide.

“Poet, if you hesitate, you will be trapped here. Like my creator in Limbo. I want us to succeed and then my creator can take on the challenge.” Virgil looked at Dante. “There are no grounds to hesitate. In my program, if we hesitate, we may end up in a loop and trapped forever unless we are terminated.”

“I ---” Dante was still unable to decide.

“For--- the sake of Beatrice, you need to move.” Virgil used the same bait on Dante. He had done it in Hell, and it worked.

“Beatrice--- yes, I will move.” Dante's right foot moved to take the next step. His decision gave him new insight.