Blessed are the merciful and the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Homily XV

Mat. V. 1, 2

      "Blessed are the merciful." [615]

   Here He seems to me to speak not of those only who show mercy in giving

   of money, but those likewise who are merciful in their actions. For the

   way of showing mercy is manifold, and this commandment is broad. What

   then is the reward thereof? "For they shall obtain mercy."

   And it seems indeed to be a sort of equal recompence, but it is a far

   greater thing than the act of goodness. For whereas they themselves

   show mercy as men, they obtain mercy from the God of all; and it is not

   the same thing, man's mercy, and God's; but as wide as is the interval

   between wickedness and goodness, so far is the one of these removed

   from the other.

   "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." [616]

   Behold again the reward is spiritual. Now He here calls "pure," either

   those who have attained unto all virtue, and are not conscious to

   themselves of any evil; or those who live in temperance. For there is

   nothing which we need so much in order to see God, as this last virtue.

   Wherefore Paul also said, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness,

   without which no man shall see the Lord." [617] He is here speaking of

   such sight as it is possible for man to have.

   For because there are many who show mercy, and who commit no rapine,

   nor are covetous, who yet are guilty of fornication and uncleanness; to

   signify that the former alone suffices not, He has added this, much in

   the same sense as Paul, writing to the Corinthians, bore witness of the

   Macedonians, that they were rich not only in almsgiving, but also in

   all other virtue. For having spoken of the noble spirit [618] they had

   shown in regard of their goods, he said, "They gave also their own

   selves to the Lord, and to us." [619]

 May you be greatly blessed,

 +William

 Monk Michael

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