Mercy

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31

Mercy

She sat down unaware of her surroundings
talking loud of the burden of her possessions
the position so important she had no time
tripped over the beggar and cursed him.

He strode by the corner where they always sat
hoping someone would notice their hunger
he threw his wrapper in the child's face
never seeing the anguish or the need.

We press a button and lock life down
keeping the need, the hunger from our doors
we fence in our lifestyle fencing out the threats
to our fragile delusions of grandeur.

And God walked the margins and the alleys
seeking the hurting and abandoned
beckoning them to a warm meal and safe place
smiling at their beauty, their sweet faith.

God walks the back roads and the dumps
never seeing us for we have locked away
ourselves from the possibility of mercy
and the warmth of God's sweet love.