# Prayer for the grace to do works of mercy towards our neighbors
*2015-03-28*

> Bill Young leads a special prayer focused on becoming a living reflection of God's mercy, specifically in response to the suffering caused by a massive earthquake.

## Responding to suffering

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young and welcome to the Prayer N Lunch podcast. Today we are doing a special prayer called the Prayer for the Grace to Do Works of Mercy Towards Our Neighbor. While there are always ways we can help our neighbors, we are focusing specifically on those affected by the massive earthquake. We cannot always be physically present in a disaster zone, but we can help through donations or, if we cannot donate, we can always pray. That is the core principle of this prayer.

## A prayer for transformation

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty Holy Trinity, as many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, and as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many times do I want to glorify Your mercy. I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection. Oh Lord, may the greatest of all divine attributes—Your unfathomable mercy—pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.

## Mercy through our senses

Help me, O Lord, that my eyes be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbor's soul and come to the rescue. Help me that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbor's needs and not be indifferent to their pains and their mournings. Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbors, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

## Mercy through action and heart

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors, taking the more difficult and tumultuous tasks upon myself. Help me that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness; my true rest is in the service of my neighbor. Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful, so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even to those who I know abuse my kindness, and I will model myself after the most merciful heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.

## The degrees of mercy

You Yourself command me to exercise the degrees of mercy. The first is the act of mercy of whatever kind. The second is the word of mercy; if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third is prayer; if I cannot show mercy by my deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayers reach out even where I cannot reach out physically. Oh my Jesus, transform me into Yourself, for You can do all things. Amen.

*When we cannot help others through direct action or words, we can always reach them through the power of prayer.*