Blessed Are The Merciful

There has been a lot of buzz and controversy lately about the place of the church when it comes to showing mercy to hurt and oppressed people of our world.  Today I invite you to open your heart and your spirit to these words of encouragement and inspiration from some very wise men (such as Saint Francis, pictured).  Live your life mercy-filled.


You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

Matthew 5:7 (The Message)

And what does the LORD require of you?  That you do justice; love mercy; and walk humbly with your GOD.
                           -Micah 6:8


You should not let a single person in the world, whatever sin that person may have committed, come before your eyes and depart without having found mercy with you.  And should that person not ask for mercy from you, then you must ask it of him.  And were that person to come to you a thousand times, continue to love them so as to lead them back to the right path.  Always have compassion, for all of us have sinned.
                                                               -Saint Francis of Assisi


The litmus test of our love for God is our love of neighbor.  

-Brennan Manning

I will be my brother's keeper, not the one who judges him
I won't despise him for his weakness, I won't regard him for his strength
I won't take away his freedom, I will learn to help him stand
And I will, I will be my brother's keeper
                                                               -Rich Mullins/Beaker


Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if you did.  As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets.  When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.
                                                               -C.S. Lewis


The bread that you store up belongs to the hungry; the coat that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.
                                                               -Saint Basil


And finally, think about this quote from entertainer Stephen Colbert, who is boldly saying what many in the church will not...

Because of Jesus,