Days of Mercy + + +

“Father most merciful, we confess our faith in Christ
with our words,
Keep us from denying him in our actions.”
(From the Daily Office)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh God,
How am I not being me today?
How am I not being my true self?
How am I denying the Christ who lives in me,
as me, through me?
Oh God,
Keep me from sabotaging all that you created me to be.
Help me to be my best self now!
May I have the patience of God for the mercy towards others
and towards myself.
May I be Christ-like in compassion and justice,
through Jesus Christ, my Lord, I pray. Amen

~ Prayers of Anna Lin

Photos on Pinterest

Day 20 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

~ Hymn words of Charles Wesley

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God,
and God in them.” 1 John 4:16

Photo on Pinterest

Day 14 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

There is an enormous task ahead of us ~ ~
We are each being called upon to share what we can. . .
and we can do this!
May God grant us generous spirits and hearts of compassion.
Lord, hear our prayers and show us the way to acts of mercy.

~ Anna Lin

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
~ Mother Teresa.

UN says the world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since 1945http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/world-faces-largest-humanitarian-crisis-1945-46055937

Day 13 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

The God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,
so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV)

In our prayers today let us remember all those throughout the world who are suffering and in need of God’s comforting care. May we be someone who can bring comfort to another in their time of need.

Although the following video comes from a faith tradition different from most of us gathered here,
I find it deeply moving and helpful in prayers for those who suffer throughout the world.
I invite you to use it in the spirit of One God and Creator of us All.
Anna Lin +

The Great Bell Chant (The End Of Suffering)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ZwaEzMtJw

Day 12 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

“God’s mercy is greater than our sins. There is an awareness of sin that does not lead to God but rather to self-preoccupation. Our temptation is to be so impressed by our sins and our failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in paralyzing guilt. It is the guilt that says, ‘I am too sinful to deserve God’s mercy.’ It is the guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God. It is the guilt that has become an idol and therefore a form of pride.

Lent is a time to break down this idol and to direct our attention to our loving Lord. The question is: ‘Are we like Judas, who was so overcome by his sin that he could not believe in God’s mercy any longer… or are we like Peter who returned to his Lord with repentance and cried bitterly for his sins?’ The season of Lent, during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance, helps us in a special way to cry out for God’s mercy.”
~ Henri Nouwen (from A Cry for Mercy)

Photo on Pinterest

Day 11 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

Last year, when the world was lured into becoming more mean-spirited than I have ever seen in my lifetime, I felt compelled to offer prayers of compassion every day . . . sending Christ’s love and mercy to heal our world. I created a little Sanctuary of Prayer to carry with me, so when I walk the Prayer Paths I am prompted to stop and move into this realm of grace.

When we want to shift our focus from our deep concerns and agony over the cares of the world it is helpful to have a spiritual practice that immediately moves us into God’s peace and presence.
It can be as simple as placing your hand over your heart;
or turning a ring on your finger;
some wear bracelets that they switch onto the other wrist;
you may pause and breathe in the peace and love of Christ’s presence;
or repeat a breath prayer of words that are meaningful to you.

Whatever feels natural and gently moves you into the sanctuary of your heart ~ ~ do that!

May blessings of peace and mercy be upon your path this day.

With love to you ~ ~ Anna Lin +

Day 10 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

“If we are absolutely grounded in the absolute love of God that protects us from nothing even as it sustains us in all things, then we can face all things with courage and tenderness and touch the hurting places in others and in ourselves with love.”

~ James Finley

Photo on Pinterest

Day 9 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

There was once a prophet Micah, (as told about in the Hebrew scriptures), who had much to say to the political, religious, and business leaders in positions of power. He chastised them for their greed, corruption, dishonesty, oppression of the poor, and neglect for God’s ways.

Here’s just one bit of what he said:

“Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in their power.
They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away;
they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance. . .”
(Micah 2:1-2)

Then Micah challenges the leaders to return to God’s way
with these words that we often quote:

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God?”
(Micah 6:8)

“Justice” is about fairness and equality for all.
This “mercy” is about acting with loving kindness.
“Walking humbly” is in contrast to those who act
in arrogance without acknowledging God’s help.

Dear people ~
In this season of Lent + these 40 Days of Mercy,
may we seek to do what the Lord requires of us . . .
To balance our desire for justice with acts of mercy . . .

Let us pray for those in positions of power
that they may have compassion for the oppressed
and choose:

Grace over greed
Faith over fear
Love over hate

and walk humbly with our God of Grace.

Anna Lin +

Image is from Repairers of the Breach on Facebook

Day 8 + 40 Days of Mercy + + +

Beloveds of God,
May these words be in your heart today:
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding.
You are peace and joy and light.
You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage,
a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow,
a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion.
You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth;
the greatest peace and the grandest love.
You are these things. And in moments of your life
you have known yourself as these things.
Choose now to know yourself as these things always.

~ Neale Donald Walsch

Photo on Pinterest

The Spirituality of Compassion

I was deeply awakened to the spirituality of compassion back in high school when we were required to read Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.
Up until then I pretty much believed that the Law is the Law and if broken
one should be punished. But reading the book I realized there are so many circumstances in which desperate people succumb to breaking the law. . . like Jean Valjean . . . stealing a loaf of bread for his hungry family.

And who can forget the first time they ever read the incident of the Bishop’s candlesticks? We are moved by the mercy that shines through
even this blatant crime that initiated a total transformation in Valjean.

When I am truly honest, I see that again and again I flounder and fail and fall short in so many ways. But God, in his great mercy shows compassion, kindness, steadfast love and forgiveness . . . ALWAYS!
And that is the Grace by which I live . . . and that moves me to share that compassion with others. Thanks be to God!
+ Anna Lin
For further reflection, here is a link to a commentary on this story.
(Note that it includes an audio version at the end of the post)

The Bishop with the Candlesticks

Photo on Pinterest