Saint
Caesarius of Arles for the past 1,500 years has pointed us to one of the
beatitudes found in the Gospel of Matthew, “Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall receive mercy." In this sermon (see below) from around the year 500,
he exhorts us to become "mercy's slaves" extolling the beauty of both
human and divine mercy. He writes . . .
“Blessed
are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. ‘Mercy’ is a beautiful word:
more beautiful still is the thing itself. All men wish to receive it, but the
worst thing is that not all of them behave in a way that deserves it. Although
everyone wishes to be shown mercy only a few wish to show it.
“O
man, how can you have the arrogance to ask for what you refuse to give to
others? You must show mercy in this world if you want to receive mercy in
heaven. So, my dearest brethren, since we all desire mercy, let us make
ourselves mercy’s slaves in this world so that she can give us our freedom in
the world to come. For there is mercy in heaven and we come to it through
earthly mercies. As Scripture says: Lord, your mercy is in heaven.
“So
there is earthly and heavenly mercy: that is, human and divine. What is human
mercy? Exactly this: to have care for the sufferings of the poor. What is
divine mercy? Without doubt, to grant forgiveness of sins. Whatever human mercy
gives away on the journey, divine mercy pays back when we arrive at last in our
native land. For it is God who feels cold and hunger, in the person of the
poor. As he himself has said: As much as you have done for the least of these,
you have done it for me. What God deigns to give on heaven, he yearns to
receive on earth.
“What
sort of people are we if we want to receive, when God offers, but when God
asks, we refuse to give? For when a poor man hungers, it is Christ who suffers
want, as he himself has said: I was hungry and you gave me no food. Do not
despise the misery of the poor if you want a sure hope of forgiveness for your
sins. Christ is hungry now, brethren, in all the poor. He consents to suffer
hunger and thirst – and whatever he receives on earth he will give back in
heaven.
“I
ask you, brethren: when you come to church, what do you want? what are you
looking for? Is it anything other than mercy? Then give earthly mercy and you
will receive the heavenly kind. The poor man asks of you, and you ask of God:
the poor man for food, you for eternal life. Give to the beggar what you want
to deserve from Christ. Hear Christ saying “Give and it will be given to you.”
I do not know how you can have the nerve to want to receive what you do not
want to give. And so, when you come to church, give, whatever you can afford as
alms for the poor.”
_______________
The
Servants of the Father of Mercy is a private association of the Archdiocese of
Los Angeles, a California corporation, IRS 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit, EIN 26 -
3855133 and listed in the Official Catholic Directory. For more information
about joining the volunteer team, they may be reached by calling (310) 595-4175
or by mail at 4744 Telephone Road, Suite 3, Box 257, Ventura, CA 93003 or by email at
info@ServantsoftheFather.org. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone
who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will
certainly not lose his reward." Mark 9:41
