St. Isaac the Syrian : What is a merciful heart?

It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds,                          
for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists.
By the recollection of them the eyes of a merciful person pour forth tears                        
in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy that grips such a                                
person’s heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is humbled
and one cannot bear to hear or to see
any injury or slight sorrow in any in  creation. For this reason, 
such a person offers up tearful prayer continually
even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for those who                  
harm him, that they be protected and receive mercy… because of the great compassion that burns without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God.


Homily 81

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