On a temporal basis… Jesus is the cornerstone of two peoples – the Gentiles and the believing Jews
“The Gospel [St. John 10: 11-16] records Our Lord as saying of the Pharisees, that “they sat upon the chair of Moses.” The Lord did not here refer only to them; as though He would send those who would believe in Christ to the school of the Jews, that they might there learn which is the way to the kingdom of heaven. Did the Lord not come to found His own Church, and separate, as wheat from the chaff, those of the Jews who believed rightly, and hoped rightly, and lived worthily; and to make one wall of the circumcision, to which He would join another wall from the uncircumcision of the Gentiles; of which two walls, coming together from different directions, He would himself be the Corner-stone? Did not the same Lord then say of those two peoples who were to be one: “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold?” He was speaking of the Jews: “Them also,” He says, “I must bring, that there may be one fold, and one shepherd.”
Whence also were there two ships, from which He called His Disciples. They stood for the two peoples, when they cast their nets and took such a great draught of fishes and their nets almost broke: “and filled both the ships” (Lk. v. 2-7). The two ships signify the One Church; but made from the two peoples, joined together in Christ through coming from different directions. This the two wives, Leah and Rachel, who had a common husband, also signify (Gen. xix). The two blind men who sat by the way side and to whom the Lord gave sight also stand for these two peoples. And if you consider the Scriptures carefully you will find that two Churches, which are not two but one, are signified in many places. And to this end does the Corner-stone serve: to make one out of two. And to this likewise the Shepherd: that from the two flocks He may make one."
On a spiritual basis… mercy is two-fold
"Within the Church mercy is two-fold. One is that in which no one need give either of his money or his labour. The other that which demands of us the service of our hands and the giving of our money.
That which requires neither alms nor effort has its place in the soul: that you forgive those who offend you. The treasure from which you bestow this alms is in your own heart: […] at no cost, with no labour, you perform a work of mercy; by kindness alone, moved only by the impulse of compassion.
See if God does not give us more. You forgave a man in that in which a man offended you who are a man. God forgives you in that in which you a man offended God. […] And note another mercy of the divine grace. You give bread. He gives salvation. You give a cup of something to a thirsty man. He gives you the cup of His own wisdom."
CALL TO ACTION: Be merciful by doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Source: Quote in purple from "The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers," Volume II; St. Augustine's sermon for the 2nd Sunday after Easter -- "On the Shepherd, the Thief, and the Hireling", pages 300-301; quote in green from same Volume II; St. Augustine's sermon for the Octave of the Pasch -- "Christian Compassion", page 279; Henry Regnery Company (copyright 1958); Imprimatur: E. Morrogh Bernard, Vic. Gen. Westmonasterii; Nihil Obstat: Hubertus Richards, S.T.L., L.S.S., Censor Deputatus
Photo by Zdenek Machacek