ACC ~ Matthew 5 v7

BLESSED BY THE LORD OF COMPASSION

CHROMATIUS: By a great number of witnesses indeed, just as many in the Old Testament as the New, we are called by the Lord to show compassion. But as a shortcut to faith we deem enough and more than enough what the Lord himself in the passage at hand expresses with his own voice, saying, “Blessed are the compassionate, for God will have compassion for them.” The Lord of compassion says that the compassionate are blessed. No one can obtain God’s compassion unless that one is also compassionate. In another passage he said, “Be compassionate, just as your Father who is in the heavens is compassionate.” [1] TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 17.6.1-2. [2]

[1] Lk 6:36.

[2] CCL 9a:274; PG 57:227; NPNF 1 10:94**. God’s mercy infinitely exceeds the best of our merciful actions.

THE REWARD OF COMPASSION

CHRYSOSTOM: Jesus speaks here not only of those who show mercy by giving worldly goods but also of those who demonstrate mercy in their actions. There are many ways to show mercy. The commandment is broad in its implications. What reward can people expect if they obey the commandment? “They obtain mercy.”

The reward at first glance appears to be an equal reimbursement, but actually the reward from God is much greater than human acts of goodness. For whereas we ourselves are showing mercy as human beings, we are obtaining mercy from the God of all. Human mercy and God’s mercy are not the same thing. As wide as the interval is between corrupted and perfect goodness, so far is human mercy distinguished from divine mercy. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 15.4. [1]

[1] PG 57:227; NPNF 1 10:94.

AS BEGGARS IN GOD’S PRESENCE

AUGUSTINE: Hear what follows: “Blessed are the compassionate, for God will have compassion on them.” Do this, and it will be done to you. Do it in regard to another that it might be done in regard to you. For you may overflow yet remain in need. You may overflow with temporal things but remain in need of eternal life. You hear the voice of a beggar, but before God you are yourself a beggar. Someone is begging from you, while you yourself are begging. As you treat your beggar, so will God treat his. You who are empty are being filled. Out of your fullness fill an empty person in need, so that your own emptiness may be again filled by the fullness of God. SERMON 53.5. [1]

[1] PL 38:366; FC 11:213-14. As we are beggars before God, we should treat beggars as we would be treated.

MERCY TOWARD ENEMIES

ANONYMOUS: The kind of compassion referred to here is not simply giving alms to the poor or orphan or widow. This kind of compassion is often found even among those who hardly know God. But that person is truly compassionate who shows compassion even to his own enemy and treats the enemy well. For it is written, “Love your enemies, and treat well those who hate you.” [1] Remember that God too sends his rain and asks his sun to rise not only over the grateful but also over the ungrateful. [2] So Jesus calls us to “be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” [3] Such a person is truly blessed, for if in fact he hasn’t sinned, which is difficult for us all, God’s grace helps him along in increasing his sense of justice. So he prays, “Forgive me my debts, just as I too forgive my debtors.” INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 9. [4]

[1] Lk 6:27.

[2] Mt 5:45.

[3] Lk 6:36.

[4] PG 56:682.