“Blessed is he who is considerate to the needy and the poor. Generous is the man who is merciful and lends. All day the just man is merciful and lends. Let us lay hold of this blessing, let us earn the name of being considerate, let us be generous.
Not even night should interrupt you in your duty of mercy. Do not say: Come back and I will give you something tomorrow. There should be no delay between your intention and your good deed. Generosity is the one thing that cannot admit of delay.
Let us visit Christ whenever we may; let us care for him, feed him, clothe him, welcome him, honor him, not only at a meal, as some have done, or by anointing him, as Mary did, or only by lending him a tomb, like Joseph of Arimathaea, or by arranging for his burial…
The Lord of all asks for mercy, not sacrifice, and mercy is greater than myriads of fattened lambs. Let us then show him mercy in the persons of the poor and those who today are lying on the ground, so that when we come to leave this world they may receive us into everlasting dwelling places, in Christ our Lord himself, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390) in Oratio 14, De Pauperum amore, 38. 40: PG 35, 907. 910.
As I read the Early Fathers during Lent I find that they frequently urge Christ-followers to show mercy. Our culture suggests that such generosity be directed only to “worthy” causes or those that may be “deserving” of support. I am so thankful that even though I did not deserve the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, He extended it to me. God help me grow in my eagerness to extend mercy to everyone day and night.