Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
JANUARY 25<br />
HAVE MERCY<br />
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Mt 5:7)<br />
The word “mercy” is so often mentioned in Byzantine church-services,<br />
particularly in the brief prayer, “Lord, have mercy” (Kyrie eleison). The<br />
Greek word for “mercy” (eleos) means much more than some external<br />
“withholding of punishment” (which is what we usually understand it to<br />
mean in English). It is a divine energy; that is to say, its source is God – so<br />
we constantly ask Him for it. In our terms it is an internal disposition; an<br />
overflowing of the heart with compassionate, self-giving love. So, when I<br />
ask God for “mercy,” I am asking not only to receive it, but to carry it on;<br />
to be a vessel of His “mercy” in this world.<br />
I often don’t notice the small opportunities I have, on a daily basis, to “have<br />
mercy” or “show mercy.” There may be a person or people dependent on<br />
me in some way, looking to me, in some small way, for compassion or at<br />
least recognition. Today I can take my demands and expectations of them<br />
a notch down; it might make their day to hear an encouraging word from<br />
me, rather than criticism.<br />
And I myself fall into this category, of people in need of my “mercy”: I<br />
can be gentler with myself today, letting go of unreasonable demands<br />
and expectations, and remembering to take care of myself, with God’s<br />
nourishing word, and in the Spirit of His divine “mercy.”<br />
29