“And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you mech as you did it to one of the least of My brethren you did it to Me.” (Mt. 25-40)
When the Lord Jesus Christ started talking about the three pillars of worship, He started first with the gift of giving. This is because giving depends on emptying the person from his or her worldly possessions to unite himself with God. He commanded us to follow His way, “Therefore, be merciful just as your Father also is merciful “(Lk. 6:36). He is merciful to the extent that He emptied Himself to be one of us (excluding sin), “The tender mercy of our God with which the dayspring from on high has visited to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death” (Lk 1:77-79). Also, “Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope” (1Peter 1:3), Because He is merciful, we cry to Him in our worldly life saying, “Have mercy upon me O God according to Your loving kindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies” (Ps. 51:1) So did the publican, “And the tax collector standing afar off would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying God be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Lk 18:13)
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, our Lord gives us a good example of the person who benefited the wounded man the most, He says, “He showed mercy on him. Then He said to him, (and to us also) ‘go and do likewise” (Lk. 10:25-37). Our Lord also says, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” (Mk. 5:7) Also in the parable of the two servants, (Mt. 18:21-35) the master punished the servant who was not merciful to his fellow servant. Therefore, the Spirit tells us, “For Judgment is without mercy for the one who has shown no mercy, Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (Jm. 2:13) This is why the Holy Bible confirms that the works of mercy towards others are directed also to God Himself (Mt. 25:40). “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord” (Prov. 19:17).
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, our Lord gives us a good example of the person who benefited the wounded man the most, He says, “He showed mercy on him. Then He said to him, (and to us also) ‘go and do likewise” (Lk. 10:25-37). Our Lord also says, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” (Mk. 5:7) Also in the parable of the two servants, (Mt. 18:21-35) the master punished the servant who was not merciful to his fellow servant. Therefore, the Spirit tells us, “For Judgment is without mercy for the one who has shown no mercy, Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (Jm. 2:13) This is why the Holy Bible confirms that the works of mercy towards others are directed also to God Himself (Mt. 25:40). “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord” (Prov. 19:17).
Many of our fathers understood this fact and labored hard to gain the gift of giving. St. Peter the worshiper started his life as a greedy tax collector, however, God revealed to him the benefits of giving and he changed his life completely to the extent that when he had spent all his possessions, he sold himself as a slave and gave his price to the poor. St. Serapion also sold all he had even his Bible and gave to the poor; when his disciple blamed him for that, he answered and said, “I have sold the Book which said to me, “Sell what you have and give to the poor (Mt.19:21) (Coptic Encyclopedia pg. 2095).
The act of mercy is not limited to giving only money or materialistic things, but it is also gaining others to Christ, “Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (Jm. 5:20) The Russian author Tolstoy wrote a novel once about two old men living in the same village, one of them was called Afim, a very conscientious, caring, and successful businessman who was elected mayor twice; the other man was called Elisha, a short, bald, simple man with a nice sense of humor who took life easy and made his living growing bees and selling honey. Both were good Christians and decided to go to visit the Holy Land together. This trip would take a year, they prepared everything they needed, greeted their relatives and friends, and began their journey. During the trip Afim was worried and thinking about his business and projects while Elisha took it all easy. Just before the feast of the Holy Apostles they arrived at southern Ukraine where there was a severe drought, and the natives had no food. On their way Elisha wanted to enter one of the villages to get something to drink, but Afim refused due to the lack of time. Elisha comforted Afim saying that he would go into the village and then catch up with Afim later. When Elisha entered the village, he came to a hut where there was a man lying at the door almost dead, he could not even answer Elisha, he found the wife, son, daughter, and mother in similar conditions; the son was begging his grandmother for a piece of bread, but she had none to give. Elisha was very moved by this, he ran to the well, got water for them to drink, and gave them bread to eat. When the family started to regain their strength, they told him that because of the drought, they sold everything; even their neighbors could not help them anymore. Elisha found it necessary to help this family get back on its feet; he bought for them a horse and a carriage, wheat to eat farming tools and paid off their debts so they can regain their farmland. This decision cost Elisha lots of time and money, it would now be impossible to complete his journey to the Holy Land so Elisha decided that he would just return to his hometown. Although his family was disappointed that he didn’t complete his journey, they were happy for his safe return. Others commented saying, “This man started but could not finish.”
As for Afim, he continued his trip always looking for his friend but never found him. When he reached the church of the Resurrection there was a massive crowd and Afim was all the way in the back, but as he looked forward, he could see his friend Elisha close to the Holy Sepulcher but could not reach him because of the crowd. This happened for three successive days of service and Afim tried to reach Elisha even after the service but was unsuccessful. On his way home after the holy visit, Afim passed through the village where they had departed from each other on their way. A girl welcomed him into her house where her whole family told him about an old man or maybe even an angel who came to them last year and saved them not only physically, but also taught them (indirectly) the love and mercy of God. When Afim reached his home, he found that his projects were failing, and his family was in disputes. The next day as Afim passed by Elisha’s house he saw him with his bald head reflecting the light, the same way he appeared when he saw him in the Church of the Resurrection. They both greeted each other in silence.
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (Jm. 1:20)
October 2021 Toot & Babah 1738
+ Fr. Marcos A. Girgis
The Church of R.I. is always praying for you, and thanks you for your continuous support.
“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7)
