Blessed are the merciful

Christ Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount

Modern Coptic icon, painted by the nuns of Saint Demiana Monastery, Egypt 

Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy, (Matt 5:7).  The merciful person is he who gives to others what he has himself received from God, whether it be money, or food, or strength, a helpful word, a prayer, or anything else that he has through which he can express his compassion for those in need.  At the same time he considers himself a debtor, since he has received more than he is asked to give.  By Christ’s grace, both in the present and in the world to come, before the whole of creation he is called merciful, just as God is called merciful (cf Luke 6:36).  

Harken to the humility of the Publican

Even if you are not what you should be, you should not despair.  It is bad enough that you have sinned; why in addition do you wrong God by regarding Him in your ignorance as powerless?  Is He, who for your sake created the great universe that you behold, incapable of saving your soul?  And if you say that this fact, as well as His incarnation, only makes your condemnation worse, then repent; and He will receive your repentance, as He accepted that of the prodigal son (cf.Luke 15:20) and the prostitute (cf. Luke 7:37-50).  But if repentance is too much for you, and you sin out of habit even when you do not want to, show humility like the publican (cf. Luke 18:13): that is enough to ensure your salvation.  For he who sins without repenting, yet does not despair, must out of necessity regard himself as the lowest of creatures, and will not dare to judge or censure anyone.  Rather, he will marvel at God’s compassion, and will be full of gratitude towards his Benefactor, and so may receive many other blessings as well.