POPE Francis has declared 2016 to be a “Year of mercy”, that is, a period of time for the remission of sins and the extending of a universal pardon, with a particular focus on God’s forgiveness and mercy, which we are to mirror. The inauguration of the “Year of Mercy” should be, therefore, for all apostles and defenders of human life an impetus to live more faithfully and preach more fully the message of the Gospel of Life in which Christ our Saviour calls us to be as merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful. (Lk.6:36)
Whenever one faithfully practises the Christian life by acting mercifully towards one’s neighbour, one’s concern actually encompasses Christ personally (Mt.25:40). As such, any act of mercy becomes fruitful and blossoms into eternal life. In order to be merciful, it is necessary to know specifically in what mercy consists. St. Augustine defines mercy as a “heartfelt sympathy for another’s distress, impelling us to help him if we can.”
By exhorting us to be as merciful as is our Heavenly Father, Christ invites us to take a path, which is intrinsic to the nature of mercy, that is, a path leading to divine greatness manifested by our generosity in dealing with others. A simple act of mercy, then, may bring solace in a time of great need. (Prov.22:9) Since this generosity is, however, a characteristic chiefly belonging to persons of influence, authority or power, it is a distinctive feature of God, who being all powerful, manifests His goodness by being, Himself, all merciful. (Ex.34:6-7)
The ultimate formula for governing our lives is found in God’s greatest commandment, which obligates us to love Him above all things and our neighbour as ourselves. (Mt.22:35-40) The guidelines for keeping this greatest commandment are the avoidance of doing evil by observing the Ten Commandments (Ex.20:1-17) and earnestly doing good by practising the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. St Paul, while encouraging the performance of the works of mercy, nevertheless, pointed out that they should originate from a love for God Himself: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”. (Col.3:12-14)
This love for God, which consists in keeping His commandments (Jn.14:15) finds concrete expression in the seven corporal and in the seven spiritual works of mercy. These specifically are
The corporal works of mercy
To feed the hungry;
To give drink to the thirsty;
To clothe the naked;
To shelter the homeless;
To visit the sick;
To visit those in prison;
To bury the dead
The spiritual works of mercy
To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To comfort the sorrowful;
To exhort sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offences willingly;
To pray for the living and the dead.
Both the natural and the divine positive law impose a strict duty on us to carry out the works of mercy. Whilst the natural law requirement is based upon the principle that we are to do to others as we would have them do to us (Mt.7:12), the positive divine law comes from Christ under the supreme penalty of eternal damnation (Mt.25:41). The corporal works were each directly and explicitly stated by Christ. The spiritual works, however, are all implied in scripture and deal with a distress whose relief is of even greater imperative as well as more effective for the grand purpose of our creation, which is, eternal life.
The intrinsic character of both the spiritual and corporal works reveals that ‘we are our brother’s keeper’. (Eph.4:25) In the case of the spiritual works, Christ enjoins fraternal correction (Mt.18:15) as well as the forgiveness of injuries (Mt.6:14). A certain degree of tact and prudence is required in fulfilling the first four of the spiritual works as each case depends largely on the degree of distress to be aided, and the competency or condition of the one to whom the responsibility falls. (Col.4:6) However, the last three, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive offences willingly and to pray for the living and the dead, are within the reach of all and, consequently, one may not dispense oneself on the plea that one lacks some special array of gifts required for their observance.
In this “Year of Mercy,” all of us who care about the quality of life in St. Lucia, are invited to redouble our efforts in order that the teachings of the Gospel of Life may bear greater fruit. For example, today, there are many people in our country who are genuinely misled and ignorant in regard to the life issues; they are unable to accept that abortion is nothing other than child killing and that contraception is contrary to the natural law. Imbued with a love of God, we must courageously embrace the task of instructing and guiding our ill-informed brethren. Likewise, we should counsel the doubtful, that is, those, for instance, who find themselves in critical moral situations and are uncertain as to what is the correct thing to do. True compassion requires that we give comfort to those who are depressed or are grieving because of mistakes they may have made, such as those, for example, who are contemplating suicide, or whose suffering arises from post abortion trauma or a broken marriage. (2Cor.7:10) It is always difficult to call sin by its proper name but, in charity, we must encourage the sinner who may be trapped in a situation of sexual cohabitation, of a same sex relationship or, of pornography addiction to look to Christ as their model and move towards a life of virtue (Jam.5:20).
In bearing witness to the teachings of Christ, we should be prepared to bear opposition patiently and, no doubt, we will suffer misunderstanding, abuse and even persecution for our witness to the Gospel of Life. (2Tim.2:10) Whatever offences and injustices we experience we should, in imitation of our most Blessed Lord (Lk.23:34; Acts.7:60), forgive readily and willingly.
The application of the teachings of Christ in regard to the corporal works of mercy may include contributing to or providing a safe refuge or home for women in a crisis pregnancy situation. This is a work that Carifam is trying to establish and will, please God, become a reality in the new year. Equally, by visiting and praying outside places where pre-born children are killed is a work of mercy, regardless of the outcome. Praying for the living and the dead includes those who, while living are spiritually dead. (Apoc.3:1) That is, we should pray for the conversion of those working in the industries that promote the Culture of Death.
In all of this, it must not be forgotten that Mercy is Love’s response to suffering and that the works of mercy demand more than a humanitarian basis if they are to serve as instruments in bringing about our eternal salvation. For the works of mercy to be salvific for us, their animating spirit must belong to the supernatural order, that is, must be rooted in the love of God above all things.
May the Mother of mercy and Refuge of sinners intercede for us that we may in this “Year of Mercy” courageously live the message of the Gospel of Life more faithfully and fully for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. (Is.56:1)
With prayers that the birth of the Son of God may be a source of great blessings for you and your family in this season of good will and throughout the New Year of grace, 2016.
I should also like to take this opportunity to cordially invite you to join our Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the Jordan from August, 7 to 22, 2016. Forms may be obtained from Valcyn’s, Micoud Street or further information may be found on our website www.adjesum.org.
Clovis, why are you lying to the people about the Creator of the trillions and trillions of Stars and Planets have a baby boy and a Caucasian one at that ? well this will earn you a paycheck, but what a miserable price to have sold your soul to damnation.
Surah Al-Kahf
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness, (1)
(But hath made it) straight, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be a fair reward, (2)
Wherein they will abide for ever; (3)
And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son, (4)
(A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers, Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie. (5)
Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps. (6)
Lo! We have placed all that is in the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct. (7)
And lo! We shall make all that is therein a barren mound. (8)
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And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him. (27)
Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned. (28)
Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place! (29)
Lo! as for those who believe and do good works – Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost. (30)
As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place! (31)
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Surah Al-Kahf
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.
Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord’s sight for reward, and better in respect of hope. (46)
And (bethink you of) the Day when we remove the hills and ye see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them behind. (47)
And they are set before thy Lord in ranks (and it is said unto them): Now verily have ye come unto Us as We created you at the first. But ye thought that We had set no tryst for you. (48)
And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which is therein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no-one. (49)
And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord’s command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers. (50)
I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation; nor choose I misleaders for (My) helpers. (51)
And (be mindful of) the Day when He will say: Call those partners of Mine whom ye pretended. Then they will cry unto them, but they will not hear their prayer, and We shall set a gulf of doom between them. (52)
And the guilty behold the Fire and know that they are about to fall therein, and they find no way of escape thence. (53)
And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur’an all manner of similitudes, but man is more than anything contentious. (54)
And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted with the Doom. (55)
We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Those who disbelieve contend with falsehood in order to refute the Truth thereby. And they take Our revelations and that wherewith they are threatened as a jest. (56)
And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelations of his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth what his hands send forward (to the Judgment)? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright. (57)
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Surah Az-Zumar/The Troops
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.
“And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’ân, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” (55)
Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad SAW and at the faithful believers] (56)
Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allâh had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqûn (pious and righteous persons – see V.2:2).” (57)
Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among the Muhsinûn (good-doers – see V.2:112).” (58)
Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers. (59)
And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allâh (i.e. attributed to Him sons, partners) — their faces will be black. Is there not in Hell an abode for the arrogant? (60)
And Allâh will deliver those who are the Muttaqûn (pious – see V.2:2) to their places of success (Paradise). Evil shall touch them not, nor shall they grieve. (61)
Allâh is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakîl (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian) over all things. (62)
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. And those who disbelieve in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, such are they who will be the losers. (63)
Say (O Muhammad SAW to the polytheists): “Do you order me to worship other than Allâh? O you fools!” (64)
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad SAW), as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers[].” (65)
Nay! But worship Allâh (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful. (66)
They made not a just estimate of Allâh such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand[] and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him! (67)
And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him whom Allâh wills. Then it will blown a second time and behold, they will be standing, looking on (waiting)[]. (68)
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord (Allâh, when He will come to judge among men) and the Book will be placed (open) and the Prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward, and it will be judged between them with truth, and they will not be wronged. (69)
And each person will be paid in full of what he did; and He is Best Aware of what they do. (70)
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners). And its keepers will say, “Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?” They will say: “Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers![]” (71)
It will be said (to them): “Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!” (72)
And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.” (73)
And they will say: “All the praises and thanks are to Allâh Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers!” (74)
And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne (of Allâh) from all round, glorifying the praises of their Lord (Allâh). And they (all the creatures) will be judged with truth, and it will be said. All the praises and thanks are to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (75)
Surah
Al-Muzzammil
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave-taking. (10)
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile. (11)
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire, (12)
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom (13)
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand. (14)
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger. (15)
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip. (16)
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey, (17)
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled. (18)
Linus,
It is my desire that Allah guides you away from the abomination of associating partners with the owner of the universe. Every time you say: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost you commit the most egregious crime against your Creator, who created you from a drop of sperm, and to him you will be returned and answer for all the people you told this lie to and the people you misled will ask that your punishment be doubled. Allah forgives All sins except the joining of partners with him; that’s the reason All the Prophets of Allah taught that God is ONE. How can you call upon three entities and say it is one God ? Stop being untrue to yourself.
This is how it is described in the last Revelation from Allah, which you in your ignorance or arrogance have rejected.
Surah Saba
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.
And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not. (28)
And they say: When is this promise (to be fulfilled) if ye are truthful? (29)
Say (O Muhammad): Yours is the promise of a Day which ye cannot postpone nor hasten by an hour. (30)
And those who disbelieve say: We believe not in this Qur’an nor in that which was before it; but oh, if thou couldst see, when the wrong-doers are brought up before their Lord, how they cast the blame one to another; how those who were despised (in the earth) say unto those who were proud: But for you, we should have been believers. (31)
Those who were proud say unto those who were despised: Did we drive you away from the guidance after it had come unto you? Nay, but ye were guilty. (32)
Those who were despised say unto those who were proud: Nay but (it was your) scheming night and day, when ye commanded us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals unto Him. And they are filled with remorse when they behold the doom; and We place carcans on the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught save what they did? (33)
And We sent not unto any township a warner, but its pampered ones declared: Lo! we are disbelievers in that which ye bring unto. (34)
And they say: We are more (than you) in wealth and children. We are not the punished! (35)
Say (O Muhammad): Lo! my Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will and narroweth it (for whom He will). But most of mankind know not. (36)
And it is not your wealth nor your children that will bring you near unto Us, but he who believeth and doeth good (he draweth near). As for such, theirs will be twofold reward for what they did and they will dwell secure in lofty halls. (37)
And as for those who strive against Our revelations, challenging, they will be brought to the doom. (38)
Say: Lo! my Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will of His bondmen, and narroweth (it) for him. And whatsoever ye spend (for good) He replaceth it. And He is the Best of Providers. (39)
And on the day when He will gather them all together, He will say unto the angels: Did these worship you? (40)
They will say: Be Thou glorified. Thou art our protector, for them! Nay, but they worshipped the jinn; most of them were believers in them. (41)
That day ye will possess no use nor hurt one for another. And We shall say unto those who did wrong: Taste the doom of the Fire which ye used to deny. (42)
And if Our revelations are recited unto them in plain terms, they say: This is naught else than a man who would turn you away from what your fathers used to worship; and they say: This is naught else than an invented lie. Those who disbelieve say of the truth when it reacheth them: This is naught else than mere magic. (43)
And We have given them no scriptures which they study, nor sent We unto them, before thee, any warner. (44)
Those before them denied, and these have not attained a tithe of that which We bestowed on them (of old); yet they denied My messengers. How intense then was My abhorrence (of them)! (45)
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): I exhort you unto one thing only: that ye awake, for Allah’s sake, by twos and singly, and then reflect: There is no madness in your comrade. He is naught else than a warner unto you in face of a terrific doom. (46)
Say: Whatever reward I might have asked of you is yours. My reward is the affair of Allah only. He is Witness over all things. (47)
Say: Lo! my Lord hurleth the truth. (He is) the Knower of Things Hidden. (48)
Say: The Truth hath come, and falsehood showeth not its face and will not return. (49)
Say: If I err, I err only to my own loss, and if I am rightly guided it is because of that which my Lord hath revealed unto me. Lo! He is Hearer, Nigh. (50)
Couldst thou but see when they are terrified with no escape, and are seized from near at hand, (51)
And say: We (now) believe therein. But how can they reach (faith) from afar off, (52)
When they disbelieved in it of yore. They aim at the unseen from afar off. (53)
And a gulf is set between them and that which they desire, as was done for people of their kind of old. Lo! they were in hopeless doubt. (54)