Mercy / 30.09.2012
The ethical basis, through which the love for the other is applied, is to treat people as we want them to treat us. Equality in treatment is the minimal thing in sentimental and practical encounter. The Lord clarifies this rule as He says: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” In addition to that, you are asked to give more than what you are given. Love is to exert from what you have and to love unlimitedly.
This is what the Lord has expressed by saying: “Love your enemies”. You shouldn’t look for good qualities in others in order to love them. You should love the qualities that one may have or may not. You should love him as he is, in his elevation and in his decline whether you had cordiality towards him or not. You shouldn’t love him because you have gained something from him. You should love him even if he didn’t show you the affection that you were expecting.
Then, Jesus says: “Do good”, without indicating the direction or the form of this act. Charity starts by taking care of the other, by considering his needs especially if he was close to you. If you didn’t know his needs, you must ask him about them and try to manage a way to fulfill them for him. His needs might be materialistic or moral.
If you weren’t able to give him money because it wasn’t available, you could always give him a moral power and a console if he was in sadness or visit him if he was sick. Sometimes, he might prefer other things over money.
Do good; not only verbally but by showing your friendship. Don’t be away from your friend so that he doesn’t think that you left him emotionally. The whole universe is based on affinity. If a person forgot you or pretended that he did, you must initiate and come back to him so that he gains back the warmth and stop feeling isolated. Feeling isolated is a bitter and saddening thing.
Always give others joy so that they don’t feel desperate or fall in a moral adversity. Heal every person you know so that he sees, thanks to you, God’s visage.
The Gospel then ends this passage with the following: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”.
Mercy is the attempt to save someone’s life from all adversities and from the temptation of sins. Mercy is having the capacity to embrace the other to you and to his Lord through you. When a person senses God’s person, he shall not be in hardship anymore. His soul will be able to contain all creations, accept all people and forgive those who have harmed it.
Mercy makes you one with lots of people; it makes others united with God and makes them acquire joy.
Translated by Mark Najjar
Original Text: “الرحمة” –Raiati 40- 30.09.2012
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