Fields United Methodist Church

Jesus Along the Way: Words of Grace and Hope.                         Pastor Tom Joyce

September 24, 2020

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”  Matthew 5:7

When we share mercy, compassion, we share the very heart of God. Fact is, God is pure love and pure love offers compassion to all people, regardless of who they are and what they have done.  When Jesus offered his Sermon on the Mount, he was emphatic about the blessings we offer are the blessings we receive. People need to know somebody cares about them and if we are honest with ourselves, we need to know somebody cares and offers us compassion when we are hurting. Consider all the first responders during this season of pandemic who care for those who are struggling directly with COVID19 or those who are very concerned about loved ones or themselves in the midst of unknowns of this disease. Each person who reaches out with compassion and comes to the aid of others is sharing the love of Christ, and confirms the presence of Christ’s love in them. Maybe that is the mercy we receive when we share mercy; we come to know the healing and gracious presence of Christ in our own lives and that gift translates into faithful witness to others. When we are merciful, judgment and all those things that keep us from an abiding relationship with Christ and with each other is melted away by God’s grace, freeing us to live a life of mercy, grace, hope, and joy. God calls each of us to offer mercy as it has been received by us; mercy is living in the love of Christ all the time and everywhere along the way!

Rev. Tom Joyce