Daily Thought for Thursday, July 14th

July 14, 2011

Kyrie Eleison

(Lord Have Mercy)

Today’s Thought:

“Among the attributes of God, although they are all equal, mercy shines with even more brilliance than justice.” – Anonymous

Today’s Quote:

“The just is close to the people’s heart, but the merciful is close to the heart of God.” – Kahlil Gibran (from ‘Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibran’)

Today’s Question

“Who will not mercy on others show, How can he mercy ever hope to have?” – Edmond Spencer

Today’s Bible Verses:     Psalms 130:7, Psalms 136:1 & 26, Jude 2 & Proverbs 11:17

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul…

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Kyrie, a transliteration of Greek κύριε (kyrie), vocative case of κύριος (kyrios), meaning "Lord", is the common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, which is also called the Kýrie, eléison (Greek, Κύριε, ἐλέησον, for "Lord, have mercy").” – Wiklipedia

“The quality of mercy is not strain’d;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

- William Shakespeare (from ‘The Merchant of Venice’)

All of us are dependent upon the mercies of God for forgiveness and favor; and from Him we are oft freely and willingly compelled to receive said mercy.  But how willing are we to distribute mercy even proportionately in comparison to what we receive?

“There was a sign tacked on a tree near a convent that said, ‘No Trespassing; Violators will be Prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.’  It was signed by The Sisters of Mercy.” – Anonymous

As Christians, we are often quick to call for ‘an eye for an eye’ when we feel we have been slighted or wronged; yet we will go to God crying ‘have mercy on me a sinner.’

Mercy is a two way street.  To those who need to receive it – they too should be willing to give it out.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”– The Bible (Matthew 5:7)   

‘Kyrie Eleison
Down the road that I must travel
Kyrie Eleison
Through the darkness of the night
Kyrie Eleison
Where I'm going will you follow
Kyrie Eleison
On a highway in the night.”

-          John Ross Lang;Richard James Page;Steven Park George

-          (lyrics from ‘Kyrie Eleison’)

As we receive His mercy, may we be as willingly and equally merciful to others.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, forgive me my sins and as I forgive those who sin against me is how Jesus taught us to pray; may we also be as quick to dispense mercy as we are willing to receive it.