Be a Person of Mercy

You’ve heard it before. What you give is what you get. Nothing is more true when it comes to the effort you ‘give’ to your spiritual life. The more you give to God, the more God gives to you, and I’m not talking about money today.

Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

2nd Corinthians 9.6-11

Have you considered what it means to sow mercy? We normally think of today’s passage in terms of money, “for God loves a cheerful giver.” We don’t normally think about mercy when it comes to giving. We say things like, ‘be merciful’ instead of give mercy. Can you give mercy?

Mercy is something we must possess in our hearts before we can ever be merciful to others. Today is the commemoration of Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria. He was known even for tearing his own garments in half to warm a poor beggar on the side of the road.

The more mercy he had in his heart, the more he gave to others. The result was much more than being called a saint. His garments continued to be instruments of God’s mercy and healing even after his death. He kept sowing mercy, and mercy was bountiful around him.

Let’s look at another verse in today’s reading. “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything AND MAY PROVIDE IN ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.” We receive God’s mercy to GIVE mercy.

Everything we have is from God and everything God gives to us is for His glory. If He gives us great wealth, you can be assured that He expects us to use our wealth for the good of others. If He is merciful to us, He expects the same response.

When a farmer sows sparingly his harvest is diminished. Not every seed takes root. The more seeds he puts in the ground, the more he will harvest. If we sow mercy sparingly we should not expect great mercy in return.

The Nativity Fast begins in a few days. It is the perfect opportunity to put Saint Paul to the test. Go out of your way to be merciful during the fast. Then take notice of how much mercy you receive in return, not only from others but also from God.

Not every act of mercy you show will take root. That is just a fact of life. Sow mercy bountifully so you can reap mercy bountifully. Mercy is a robust crop. It only takes a few seeds to spread into great things. It starts with us being people of mercy.