ACC ~ James 2 v13

THE ART OF SHOWING MERCY. CHRYSOSTOM: Mercy is the highest art and the shield of those who practice it. It is the friend of God, standing always next to him and freely blessing whatever he wishes. It must not be despised by us. For in its purity it grants great liberty to those who respond to it in kind. It must be shown to those who have quarreled with us, as well as to those who have sinned against us, so great is its power. It breaks chains, dispels darkness, extinguishes fire, kills the worm and takes away the gnashing of teeth. By it the gates of heaven open with the greatest of ease. In short, mercy is a queen which makes men like God. CATENA.

ONE WHO HAS SHOWN NO MERCY. AUGUSTINE: He who judges without mercy will be judged without mercy. And in this sense only is the “same measure” to be understood, that the mercy which he did not show will not be shown to him, and that the judgment which he makes will be eternal, even though the thing judged cannot be eternal. LETTER 102.4.

AN OIL OF ESCAPE. HESYCHIUS: Just as oil enables athletes to escape the hands of their opponents, so mercy prepares those who practice it to avoid and escape the demons. CATENA.

MERCY TRIUMPHS. BRAULIO OF SARAGOSSA: God will never cut us off by his severe judgment. Rather, “mercy triumphs over judgment” and with his accustomed faithfulness, he will unite us in the eternal blessedness of his storehouse, if that is agreeable to him. LETTERS 15.

YOUR JUDGMENT AND GOD’S. HILARY OF ARLES: If you are merciful and lenient to the poor in your judgment, you will have nothing to fear from the judgment of God. INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES.

FORGIVING AS WE ARE FORGIVEN. OECUMENIUS: If we forgive others the sins which they have committed against us and give alms to the poor and needy among us, then God’s mercy will deliver us from judgment. But if, on the other hand, we are not well-disposed toward those around us, we shall receive the condemnation handed out to the wicked servant, along with the retribution which is mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer. For there we ask God to forgive us as we forgive those who have sinned against us, but if we do not forgive them, we shall not be forgiven either. COMMENTARY ON JAMES.