CHARACTERISTICS OF A SECULAR FRANCISCAN THE BEATITUDES AND

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SECULAR FRANCISCAN – THE BEATITUDES AND THE SFO 5. Blessed are Those Who Show Mercy; They Shall Receive Mercy 1

MERCY n The outpouring to others of God’s gift of mercy that we have experienced. – Compassion – Concern – Care n Being a brother or sister to everyone 2

MERCY “The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in details. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; Then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the Lord? ” con’t. 3

MERCY “Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, Who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!” Sir. 28: 1 -6 4

MERCY n Forgiveness – Of the failings of others – Of hurts inflicted on us by others – Of ourselves and our own sins God’s forgiveness of us n Related to perfection n 5

MERCY Central to community living n Forgive how often? How many times? n Limitless debt – limitless compassion n Can’t win God’s forgiveness. n – Can we lose it? ? 6

MERCY AND THE EUCHARIST The crowds – symbol of a humanity in need n Gifts we bring to the Eucharistic table: – Good deeds of mercy toward others – Examination of our own lives first – No rejection of others – No discrimination n Contradicts: – Intolerance – Lack of forgiveness – Prejudice n 7

SHARING QUESTIONS – BEATITUDE #5 1. In what ways have I experienced God’s mercy? 2. How have I shown mercy to others? What is my deep-down attitude towards the poor? 3. How is mercy reflected in my fraternity? Could it be better? If so, how? 4. Think of some examples of things that have happened in your life or your fraternity where mercy needed to be shown. Was it? If not, how could you keep it from happening again that way? 8

BEATITUDE #6 Blessed are the Pure of Heart; They Shall See God. 9

PURITY OF HEART • What is it? • Two things: – Ethical attitude – Interior disposition 10

SEEING GOD “Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain, nor swears deceitfully to his neighbor. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. ” (Ps. 24: 3 -6) 11

PURE OF HEART • Jesus – Transfiguration • Interior transforming light of God’s presence • An indication of His relationship with God at the depth of His being. 12

PURE OF HEART • Move beyond surface “cares” • Look in a new way – at ourselves, others and God • How? – Divine intervention – Our own insight through wisdom given by God – Experience God’s care for us 13

PURE OF HEART • Purgation: – Mortification • Learn to care • Learn not to care • Make the right choices – Detachment • Giving up comforts • Surface self-stripping • Begin to care for what really matters 14

PURE OF HEART • Two central choices in life: – The reign of God’s will OR – Society’s way of running after worldly things – Part of the gift of discernment 15

PURE OF HEART • Recollection: – Helps us simplify our lives – Process of slowing ourselves down – Entering into silence – Experience solitude – Goal – to obtain union with Jesus 16

SHARING QUESTIONS – BEATITUDE #6 1. 2. 3. 4. What do I consider to be “purity of heart”? How do we come to a better understanding and knowledge of ourselves? What does it mean to be “detached” from the things/cares of the world? Am I? If so, how did I get to that point? If not, what can I do to become detached? Has my fraternity ever focused on the qualities discussed about this Beatitude? In what way? Does the fraternity ever have “recollection” type of prayer at its gathering? What is your own experience of “recollection” as described in this discussion? 17