News

The Gospel of Luke is known as the Gospel of Mercy and in cadence with Matthew and Mark. Though, If you really want to dive into the Heart of Jesus read the Gospel of John. My message to you as to help better understand Works of Mercy. The dust swirled around Elias’s sandals, hot and gritty, mirroring the turmoil in his heart. He, a Levite, a keeper of the law, was walking a road littered with disappointment. He had seen a man, beaten and left for dead, sprawled by the dusty verge. His first instinct, honed from years of ritual and expectation, had been to look the other way. He’d muttered a quick prayer, a plea for purity, and hurried on. Later, shame pricked him. He, who knew the scriptures, who chanted the psalms of mercy, had shown none himself. He reached the village, the familiar sights offering no comfort, and found himself drawn to the square. There, a small crowd had gathered around a man, a tax collector named Silas. Silas, known for his shrewd dealings and callous heart, stood with his head bowed, tears tracing paths through the grime on his face. Elias had always felt superior to men like Silas. He scrawled in his ledger, another notch against him. But now, hearing the broken sobs, saw not a publican, but a man. He overheard Silas’s whispered plea, a desperate cry for forgiveness, echoing his own internal struggle. He remembered the stories, whispers of a teacher who preached not of judgement, but of boundless compassion. That evening, a woman appeared, her face etched with pain and defiance, entering the courtyard where Elias was seeking solace. He recoiled slightly; he knew of her reputation, whispered words of sin and shame. Yet, she approached the man, the same teacher whom he had heard rumours about. She wept at his feet, her tears mingling with the precious oil she anointed them with. To Elias’ surprise, the teacher didn't condemn her, instead, he offered her forgiveness, speaking of love and acceptance. Hope flickered in Elias’s chest. Days later, Elias found himself on the edge of Jericho, watching a notorious figure, Zacchaeus, a man even more reviled than Silas, perched awkwardly in a sycamore tree. The teacher, the same one who forgave the woman, looked up, his eyes meeting Zacchaeus’s. He didn't turn away in disgust, but invited himself to dine at his home. Elias realised then that this teacher was unlike anyone he had ever known, that this was the essence of true mercy. His perspective irrevocably changed, Elias returned to his duties. The weight of his own self-righteousness now felt like a heavy cloak, he yearned to cast it aside. Then, reports began to trickle into Jerusalem, rumours of the teacher’s trial, his condemnation, his death upon a Roman cross. Elias, torn between grief and confusion, stumbled toward Golgotha, the hill of skulls. There, amidst the jeering crowd, he saw him, the teacher, hanging on the cross, bloodied and broken. Even as he gasped for breath, the teacher spoke, his voice weak but clear, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Elias was stunned. Forgiveness for the very men who were nailing him to that tree? Later, the sounds of desperate cries of a man confessing his crimes, were heard. Elias heard the teacher respond with a promise of Paradise to a thief, a man condemned for his sins. Elias’s heart broke, a shatter reaching every part of him. He thought of the Samaritan he had left broken, of Silas he had judged, of the woman, and Zacchaeus, men who deserved mercy. He had to learn to be so merciful, so forgiving. He, who had been so quick to judge, needed most to embrace the boundless, transforming power of mercy. He had heard the words, now he had seen them in action; not just in parables and pronouncements, but in the ultimate sacrifice. The journey was long, and difficult, but Elias now knew where to seek direction. The road ahead, though often dusty and difficult, was also filled with the potential for compassion and grace, a path of true mercy.

Spiritual Works of Mercy - Let us pray for the suffering. [prayer attributed to St. Padre Pio] Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me. I thank you for sending your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the world to save and to set me free. I trust in your power and grace that sustain and restore me. Loving Father, touch me now with your healing hands, for I believe that your will is for me to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit. Cover me with the most precious blood of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. Cast out anything that should not be in me. Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the power of Jesus’ precious blood. Let the fire of your healing love pass through my entire body to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body will function the way you created it to function. Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest recesses of my heart. Saturate my entire being with your presence, love, joy and peace and draw me ever closer to you every moment of my life. And Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to do your works so that my life will bring glory and honour to your holy name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

About Works of Mercy The concept of true mercy is characterized by a bilateral reality, functioning as a two-way street: when we extend mercy to others, we are also recipients of it. The merciful outlook should not be mistaken for a patronizing outlook, as it is not about pitying or looking down on people from a pedestal. Instead, it is about genuinely feeling their pain, suffering, and agony from the depths of your heart. The act of giving mercy is not only a selfless act, but also a way to invite mercy into our own lives. Showing mercy is a demonstration of love and compassion. Corporal Works of Mercy Feed the Hungry, Give drink to the thristy, Clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Comfort the sick, Visit the imprissoned, Bury the dead. Spiritual Works of Mercy Instruct the Ignorant, Counsel the doubtful, Admonish sinners, Bear wrongs patiently, Forgive offenses willingly, Comfort the afflicted, Pray for the living and the dead. Scriptual Approach covers the five categories mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew 25: 1-46

Eric Mahl - NFL player quits and spent the rest of his life providing Works of Mercy on the streets. Eric Mahl grew up in the small town of Monroeville, Ohio, where he was a standout athlete. He earned a scholarship to play division one football at Kent State University and, in 2005, was signed by the Cleveland Browns. After leaving the NFL, he spent three years working in the world where he continued to discern his vocation intensively. After this period of discernment, he sold or gave away all his belongings to give himself fully to the Lord and live out the message of Divine Mercy. His journey eventually lead him to the shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Eric now lives, works, and prays in service with the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy.