“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 1544 Morse Avenue, Suite A, 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
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