Works of Mercy

Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God’s ear to yourself.

When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Let this be the pattern for all men when they practise mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you.

St. Peter Chrysologus

Labels: Contemplations on Mercy, Mercy thoughts

1) Mercy is for everyone.

2) Mercy relieves suffering, and there are different kinds of suffering.

3) Charity begins at Home.

4) Charity can’t end at Home

5) Mercy is not always Convenient.

6) Charity is not the same as Social Work.

7) Mercy is Never Condescending.


A good read of these seven points is found at the Crossroads Initiative

Labels: Contemplations on Mercy

But as I look at the world, and the gathering darkness of hate and anger and self-indulgence, I am constantly haunted by a passage from the Gospel of Luke:

"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.

"And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Luke 6:27-36, RSV

The quandry to me is how to be merciful in a world where we are surrounded by those who would kill us? How to be kind, while keeping oneself from the knife at the neck? How to pray for those who hate you, even as they plan to tear down all you believe is good.

Jesus never said it would be easy. I'm going to spend some time contemplating this quandry, and looking for solutions.

Labels: Contemplations on Mercy