And how merciful is the Heavenly Father to us? He so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). He is so good and so many-merciful that He commands His sun to rise over the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matt. 5:45), gives us everything even before our petition (cf.: Matt. 6:8), and even those who do not lead or honor Him, does not cease to bear witness to Himself with good deeds, giving us rains from heaven and fruitful times, and filling our hearts with food and gladness (cf. Acts 14:17). He is so long-suffering and merciful to us that he not only does not strike, but spares and has mercy on us even when we sin against Him, boldly transgress His holy will, senselessly offend His highest holiness and His righteousness, not fearing His impregnable glory and majesty, not dreading the terrible rebuke of His wrath. He is so merciful and unmemorable to us that he forgives all our sins, does not remember our iniquities for only repentance and confession of our sins before Him.
How merciful is the only begotten Son of God to us? He, our Lord and Creator, having glory and blessedness from His Father before the foundation of the world, for the sake of us sinners, left this glory, humbled and humbled Himself to a servant of the eye, to a den and a manger, to the poor life of a wanderer who has no where to bow head (Matthew 8:20). But this is not enough.
He, the most merciful, took upon Himself all the sins and types of human calamities, patiently and meekly endured all reproaches, sufferings and torments from those very His servants whom He came to bless and save from eternal death.
Having all the power and authority to exterminate and destroy His enemies with a single word, He did not cease to do good to them, to spare and have mercy on them, to grieve over the petrification of their hearts, weep over the death that threatens them, and, nailed to the cross, prayed for His crucifiers. He is so merciful and merciful to us that, having offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, He gave us all the treasures of His grace, sent down to us His All-Holy Spirit, nourishes us with His Flesh and Blood, shares with His followers, whom He calls friends and brothers, all His glory that He had with His Father before the foundation of the world, and then even when we oppose His holy word, do not obey His commandments, we are rejected by Him by our criminal deeds. He, who is most merciful and gentle, does not deprive us of His grace, does not take away His Cross and the Gospel, does not tear us away from His life-giving Sacraments, longsufferingly awaits and graciously accepts our repentance.
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You see, beloved, what mercy and what love our Lord requires and expects from us, who laid down His life for us! As a reflection of the highest love of the Son of God for us, it should be just as selfless, humble and gentle: not to seek its own benefit and advantage, not to neglect any kind of poverty and human humiliation, not to be embarrassed by any ingratitude, nor human malice or hatred, not to seek and expect neither praise nor reward in this world, but, on the contrary, love both the evil-wishers themselves and your enemies and be ready to lay down your life for your brethren.
If you love those who love you, says the Lord, what thanks do you have? 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 sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what thanks do you have for that? for even sinners lend to sinners in order to get back the same amount. But you love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High (Luke 6:32-35).
As a reflection of the long-suffering and merciful love of God, our love should also be indulgent towards the shortcomings of our neighbor, patient with his weaknesses, merciful to his infirmities, cover his very sins, forgive from the bottom of our hearts any insult and offense.
Love, says the Apostle, is long-suffering, merciful, love does not envy, love does not exalt itself, is not proud, does not behave violently, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; covers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Each of us must please our neighbor for good, for edification (Rom. 15:2), not repay evil for evil to anyone; but always seek the good both for each other and for everyone (cf. 1 Thess. 5:15). Bless your persecutors; bless, not curse. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:14, 21).
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Like a reflection of the inevitable light of the all-embracing, merciful and beneficial love of God, and our love for our neighbor must be merciful, compassionate, long-suffering, all-generous, ready to share with those in need everything to the last garment and to the last bread, to render him every possible and useful for us a service for him, to do for him everything that his need requires and that is available to our forces.
We do not need to know why our neighbor is unhappy and whether he himself was the cause of his own unhappiness. It is enough that he is unhappy, that he needs our help - material or spiritual; and we are obliged to give him a helping hand, to console his mournful soul with a word of love and compassion and a deed of mercy and good deeds, to alleviate the sorrow of his soul with warm sympathy for him, to strengthen his faith and hope with brotherly advice and prayer, to save and protect his soul from the temptations of the world and from the overpowering force of his own passions.
With such an all-merciful, most merciful, generous, long-suffering love, the Lord loved us!
And so He tells us: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12); be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). This is for Me the best gratitude for all My good deeds, the best recompense for all the labors and sufferings that I endured for your salvation. This is the best good that I wish for yourselves; this is your true happiness both in the present and in future life. Love one another with the same purity, sincerity, and willingness to do good to all with which I have loved you. Then only you will be worthy of Me and will truly be My disciples, by this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35). Only then will you be worthy to be called sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father, who is merciful and kind to the ungrateful and evil (Luke 6:35). Only then will you be legitimate heirs to the eternal Kingdom of God, in which only love, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit dwell. Then only your happiness and bliss is true and unshakable forever - in eternal life in God and with God. Whoever loves me will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him (John 14:23).
With this instruction, our Lord Jesus Christ addresses us today. Mercy is a feeling that is not very characteristic of a fallen person from God. "Man is a wolf to man" was a Latin proverb. This thought is also expressed in the words of King David: “It is very hard for me,” David said, “let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; .
IN Old Testament believed that God's mercy is intended only for the chosen people. But gradually, through the prophets, God brings up in this people a feeling of mercy towards their neighbor. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah pointed out that God's mercy knows no other limit than the bitterness of the sinner (Is. 9:16; Jer. 16:5-13). "The mercy of man is to his neighbor, but the mercy of the Lord is to all flesh," we read in the book of Wisdom. "As a father has mercy on his sons, so the Lord has mercy on those who fear Him. For He knows our composition, remembers that we are dust," says the Psalmist David. "The Lord is a God of righteousness... Blessed are all who trust in Him" (Isaiah 30:18). "The Lord is good and merciful, long-suffering and merciful." If God is good and merciful, then naturally He requires goodness and mercy in the relations of people among themselves.
Under the influence of rabbinic interpretations (Talmud), despite the clearly expressed thoughts and calls of the prophets, calls that abolish the isolation of the Jewish people, the Jews began to neglect the call of God to mercy, believing that by their external, formal observance of the Law, they acquire righteousness. But the heart of God is gladdened not by those who consider themselves righteous, but by repentant sinners. This is the basic thought of all the prophets.
"I want mercy, not sacrifice," the Lord proclaimed through the mouth of the prophet Hosea. And in order to have access to God's mercy, everyone - both Jews and Gentiles - must still recognize themselves as sinners, for "God has locked up everyone in disobedience, that he might have mercy on everyone" (cf. Rom. ch. 2). "Truly I know that God shows no partiality; but in every nation he who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him" (Acts 11 ch.). "God has no partiality," say Ann. Peter and Paul.
The New Testament proclaims to us the Good News of the infinite mercy of God. Christ sympathizes with everyone: before Him, the learned members of the Sanhedrin, before Him repentant sinners - publicans and harlots, before Him, a Samaritan woman, a Canaanite woman and a Roman centurion alien to the Jews. Jesus Christ points out that the feeling of mercy should bring me closer to every person in trouble whom I meet on my way, and fill with pity for those who offend me. A Christian cannot close his heart to a brother in need, for the love of God dwells only in those who show mercy (1 Jo 3:17).
"Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect," the Lord tells us. The perfection that Christ requires of us, according to today's Gospel reading, must consist, first of all, in the duty "to be merciful." Mercy is compassion and forgiveness. The word mercy indicates a feeling of devotion, a spiritual connection between people, which implies fidelity to God. Mercy is not just a manifestation of instinctive kindness, it is life in God, who has mercy on us, it is, as it were, a response to our inner debt to God. Amen.
For revival to come to this earth, we Christians, as God's messengers, must reveal Jesus Christ to the world. The Bible, revealing to us the fullness God's image, teaches how to become like Him in your earthly life.
So be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36
We, like the Lord, must sympathize and empathize with all who are in need, and especially children who are left without any guardianship. It is only by helping and caring for them that we become disciples of Jesus Christ. The aspiration of every Christian is for Christ to be reflected in us, for His mercy, His piety, His love to be reflected. The Bible says:
Do not refuse a favor to the needy, when your hand is able to do it.
Do not say to your friend: "Go and come again, and tomorrow I will give," when you have with you.
Proverbs 3:27,28
God in His Word teaches us to give a good deed to anyone in need. Who in our society needs help and care more than children? How will they grow up if no one is worried about their fate?
Counseling is the main characteristic of Jesus Christ. For human souls, He did not regret giving His own life, and therefore these children's souls are so important to Him. Children always need everything more than adults. For their correct formation in the world, for the education in them of the correct spiritual and civic position, the help of an adult is needed. Jesus Christ expects these people to be His followers.
Christians are the answer to every need in society, and therefore they can cope with the problem of homelessness.
Whatever the needs of these children, we cannot refuse to help them! We just don't have the right! God says: "Do not refuse the needy!" Notice, however, that it is written here, "When your hand is able to do it." That is, God clearly indicates: you can help another only when you are able to do it.
Some people tend to be "excesses" in such matters, and they thoughtlessly take absolutely everything out of their homes, and then they themselves are in need. Some even go to conflict with loved ones in order, as they think, to fulfill the will of God. Wanting to help everyone is great. But God expects us to be reasonable in these matters. He gives us wisdom so that we can navigate whether our "good giving" will benefit a person.
When do we have the power to show mercy? Often people limit their understanding of good deeds to financial help only and therefore explain their complete inaction and indifference by the lack of money.
They forget that Christ lives in us, and therefore we can do a lot. A Christian can always help someone in need with something: salvation, advice, wisdom, prayer. God, who lives within us, has unlimited possibilities, and therefore we have them too. Often giving money, which is considered to be the main need of street children, does not serve them well. With this money they buy alcohol or glue, with which they then simply poison themselves.
Salvation in Christ is much more valuable than money, and our task, first of all, is to show these children the way to Jesus, to save their souls. This will bring them much more help than a few hryvnias, which, perhaps, will ruin their lives. That is, in matters of beneficence, it is important to have balance and wisdom.
Christians have the mind of Christ and are therefore taught to be reasonable. Through the wisdom of God, we can know what a disadvantaged child really needs. What is asked of you is not always what you have to give. For example, if a guy asks a young girl to have sexual relations with him, then it would be sheer stupidity to give in to his desire, because he "needs" it. Most likely, he has a completely different need, he needs to fill the void that he has inside. Wise girl knowing Jesus Christ, will lead this guy to repentance, explain to him the meaning of life and marriage.
The main point God is pointing out is that the Christian should always be the source of the answer and the source of help for those in need. God doesn't just recommend that we be merciful, He requires it:
Oh man! told you what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love works of mercy ...
Micah 6:8
Not only that, God requires to do works of mercy. In addition, He also wants us to love making them! God knows very well the old selfish essence of human nature, which absolutely does not correspond to His image. He knows that His blessings belong only to a person who does good, who knows how to sow mercy.
A charitable soul will be satiated; and who will drinkothers, he himself will be drunk.
Proverbs 11:25
God wants to see our society successful, He wants every person living in this society to become successful. But no one can become successful and rich by being miserly. Mercy always prompts "sowing," which in turn causes the rain of God's blessings. Amazing wisdom! Human society will have the abundance of God's provision only when it learns charity.
Week 19 after Pentecost.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
“And as you want people to do to you, so do to them” (Luke 6.31). And just something? So reassuringly easy, so simply begins today's passage from the Gospel of Luke, so unpretentious and uncomplicated this condition of our salvation, set by the Lord, seems to us, but - just a few lines later - what an unthinkable, what an unimaginable and painful requirement turns into this such, it would seem, simple maxim: "Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36)! Wow! But who, pray tell, is capable of “loving enemies”? Still all right - to lend, "not expecting anything"; if little by little yes occasionally - it is possible! Let's write to charity. But to become like the Savior himself in humility and love, when He prays for those who crucify Him, who beat Him, who, mockingly, cry out: “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mt.27.29), - this, Lord, is a work that is unbearable for us, it is beyond human strength!
This happens because most of us are sure: if the people around us did the same to us as we do to them, our life would turn into absolute bliss! You don't have to die! No matter how often we go to confession, no matter how seriously and thoroughly we take repentance, in the very depths of our souls, each of us is sure: it is my children who are irreverent and rude, it is my parents who are despotic and impatient, it is my boss who is stupid and incompetent, it is my neighbors are slovenly and unceremonious... And what about myself? What am I? I grieve and humbly endure all this horde of tormentors, and even pray for them, and therefore, as expected, I love them in a Christian way. And the fact that the halo has not yet shone over me is because of my sins. On the other hand, what are these particular sins? Generally speaking, I don't see them. And really, how to see? How to see them if day after day when the eyes are busy counting other people's sins, a close "expert assessment" of one's own children, one's own parents, one's superiors and closest neighbors?
Yes, my bodily eyes are directed to the external. But after all, the eyes of my soul, what is commonly called conscience, conscience, co-knowledge, what is given to me by God for correlation, for comparison, for constant adjustment of myself, as I am today, with that great Image, Which is the basis of my personality, my eternal and immortal self, these spiritual eyes are also blinded. They do not look at myself, they do not evaluate my conformity to this Image, which, in fact, is what is required of me, as a Christian, first of all. They habitually, following the bodily eyes, turn outward. With such a disposition of the soul, it is simply impossible to see the true state of things, just as it is impossible to see one's own ears without the help of a mirror.
Such a “mirror” for the soul, for conscience should be for each of us repentance, that is, such a disposition of consciousness when a Christian compares himself not with the people around him, but with that great plan about himself, which Holy Bible calls "the image of God" (Gen. 1:26) in man. Only by realizing this magnificent plan of God in oneself, a person is able to be what he is commanded to be in today's Gospel: merciful, loving, able to forgive. If you remember this, then the great moral law: “as you want people to do with you, so do with them (Luke 6.31), which Christ reminded us of today, this law will be for us the first step on hard way moral self-improvement. After all, even when I am guilty before my neighbor, I hardly want to be punished with justice. Rather, even if I don’t start making excuses, referring to “objective circumstances”, as most often happens, I just want mercy and indulgence. At least I will dream about it ...
And so, to be consistent, we have to admit that justice is simpler and more understandable than love. Justice will reward "to each according to his deeds" (Ps. 61.13), and mercy Heavenly Father Until now, he bears me a sinner and up to “seventy times seven” (Matt. 18.22) forgives anyone who betrays his God a hundred times a day. Seekers of justice will convince us that such forgiveness corrupts, and retribution “according to deeds” educates and strengthens us in the misfortunes, temptations and discords of life. However, the Word of God requires of us not justice, but mercy. However, the Savior Christ invites each of us not to stop on the spot, because in the spiritual life it is impossible to stand. You can either, skinning your hands in the blood, slowly and difficultly climb to the top, or rapidly fall down, leaving all efforts, all attempts to ever reach it.
If we manage to initiate repentance, then there is hope that we will someday see the true state of our blind and fallen soul. And this, in turn, will open the way for us to hope that we will be treated not justly, but mercifully. And then, who knows, maybe we will learn to pity those who have done evil to us, then, perhaps, we will reach a state of soul in which it is possible to become like our Heavenly Father in mercy and forgiveness. Amen.
