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TODAY’S WORD…

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All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

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He comforts us in all our troubles

so that we can comfort others.

When they are troubled,

we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

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– 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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We should always be thankful to God for His mercy

and for the consolation He brings.

But it shouldn’t stop at being thankful.

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Loving God

is all about unselfishly loving and being merciful towards others.

If we truly love Him

and are thankful to Him,

then we will readily give from what He gives us

– to others,

especially when they are troubled and in need.

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QUOTE…

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Mercy, according to St Augustine, is

"a certain compassion for another’s wretchedness

that arises in our heart,

whereby we feel impelled to give him every possible help"

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PRAYER…

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Father,

thank You for Your unfailing love and mercy.

Thank You for Your divine consolation and help.

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Father,

make my heart grieve at the misfortune of others,
and make me merciful and overflowing with compassion.
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Grant that I turn my faith into action.

Make me generous and giving.

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Father,

make me more like Jesus.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord and my God,

make me generous and giving…like You.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Works of mercy

are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbour

in his spiritual and bodily necessities.

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Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting

are spiritual works of mercy,

as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently.

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The corporal works of mercy consist especially

in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless,

clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned,

and burying the dead.

Among all these,

giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity:

it is also a work of justice pleasing to God. […]

[CCC 2447]

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