|
|
by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand
Saturday 3 July 2010 (26 Paoni; 26 Baona):
If your enemy is hungry, feed him ...........by doing this
you will heap coals of fire on his head.
(Rom. 12:20)
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God.
(Psa. 72:28)
So the Sun stood still, and the Moon stopped till the
people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not
written in the Book of Jasher? So the Sun stood still
in the midst of heaven and did not hasten to go down
for about a whole day.
(Josh.10:13)
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days
of your life,I will not leave you or forsake you.
(Josh.1:5)
Without love you have nothing of value. But when you
have love, you will not be in want. He who loves his
brother completes the law.
(St. Augustine)
Do not be deceived by the joys of this age, for they
are lost dreams.
(St. Augustine)
Whoever exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance
of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin.
(Sirach 28:1)
I will praise you, Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all
your wonderful deeds.
(Psa. 9:1)
O Thou mighty God above all, hear the voices of the
forlorn and deliver up out of the hands of the
mischievous, and deliver me out of my fear.
(Esther 14:19)
Obedience is the burial place of the will, and the resurrection
of lowliness.
(John Climacus)
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and
you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
(Luke 6:37)
We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us,
rather than abhor and despise them. For they harm themselves
and do us good. They adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory
while they invite Gods anger against themselves.
God of Goodness, grant us the grace to return good toward those
who do evil to us. Let us realize that they are Your instruments
for fashioning us into the persons You want us to be for all
eternity.
(Anthony Zaccaria)
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. (Matt.5:7)
A Father loves to trace in his own likeness in his children. God wants to see us merciful, because He is mercy. As Luke tells us: 'Your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as you Father is also merciful.' (Luke 6:36)
Tenderness is what best helps us to understand the attribute in God called Mercy. Tenderness comes from strength; we feel tender towards those who need our protection; like small children and small animals. Tenderness is the opposite to cruelty; cruelty is a sense of power turned to evil, while Tenderness is a sense of power turned to good. God is all-powerful and all-good; and therefore infinite in tender mercy.
The world, apart from Christ's influence, is cruel, not merciful. When we look at recent crimes against other nations. God says 'Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I shall repay.' We should not take the law into our own hands.
But remember always how delicate a growth mercy is, either in the world or in our own heart.
Really merciful persons are rare: the rich have little mercy on the poor, and vice versa; the intelligent on the stupid; the old on the young, these can also be seen the other way around.
How easily even Christ's followers may become cruel instead of merciful: the dreadful things men have done in His name! The 'Inquisition' to cite an example. The Fires at Smithfield and the Hangings at Tyburn instigated by Mary I in the Name of Christ.
'For they shall obtain mercy.' Obtain mercy for their sins, in the Judgement: Obtain mercy itself direct from God, as their portion forever. 'Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' (Matt. 25:34)
As the Father is merciful be ye also merciful. The Golden Rule 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' There is another group that the Lord spoke to 'Depart from Me I never knew you.' What an indictment. Make sure you are on the right side.
Remember the unjust Steward, who was forgiven much, but did not show Compassion on his fellow steward. If the Lord is Compassionate and shows you mercy, go and do thou likewise.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Thanks be to God.
To Thee be all glory and praise, now and ever, unto ages of ages.
AMEN!
Evening: Psalm 105:14-15; Luke 11:37-51.
Morning: Psalm 105:26-27 & 45; Matt.17:1-9.
Liturgy: Heb.11:17-27; 2 Peter 1:19-2:8; Acts 15:21-29;
Psalm 99:6-7; Gospel Matt.23:13-36.
Copyright DR
Last Week | Next | Weekly Devotional Archives
Today with Jesus | Sermons | Essays | Articles | Bible Study | Library - Home | Baselios Church Home
-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox
Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by
International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio
