HAVE MERCY!
FR. COSTA’S WEEKLY MESSAGE, May 24, 2009

“For, in a little while, the scrutiny of each one of us will take place, when we all stand before the dreadful tribunal of Christ, clothed with our own deeds. And we will see with our own eyes, on the one hand, the tears of the orphans, and on the other, our disgraceful licentiousness with which we contaminated our souls, the wailing of the widows, the ill treatment of the weak, the rape of the poor. We will be examined about not only these matters and others like them, but also whatever indecent thing we committed in thought, because He is ‘the judge of thoughts and understandings’ (Hebrews 4:12); and, ‘the one who examines hearts and the inner man’ (Psalm 7:10); and, ‘He rewards each person according to his deeds’ (Matthew 16:27).”

[St. John Chrysostom On Repentance and Almsgiving, translated by Gus George Christo, Fathers of the Church series, volume 96, The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 1998; pg. 49.]