The following is an excerpt from Cora Evans’ work, The Refugee from Heaven, selected as a reflection for the Sunday Gospel reading Luke 18:9-14.

The prisoners shook their heads.

“She understands mercy and kindness because she has prayed much,” the Master continued. “She knows that each act she performs in life for her fellowmen, regardless of who they are, earns a jewel for her eternal crown. She knows, too, that she will die someday and that she will live again in Heaven with God. Then she will receive the crown of jewels made possible through her earthly acts of mercy and love. These acts are living prayers, and God calls them gems of compassionate mercy. Compassionate mercy is actual work – the doing of something for the poor and suffering.

“Showing mercy is one path that leads to God's kingdom of everlasting joy, and Turan has found it. Death will one day strip you of these clay bodies, and then your spirits will gain their freedom as only such freedom was known before the fall of Adam. How do you think you will look in the darkness of spirit without a single jewel that you could have earned while you had the chance? Jewels must be earned – that is the reason of life. God the Father rewards well and most faithfully the least little favor accomplished in life. Why, even in this dark prison you can store up jewels by showing mercy and kindness to one another. Why do you wait longer before you start to build treasures for your eternal joys? Turan has shown you the way.”

Frightened until he trembled, one prisoner asked, “How can God hear us when we are already so wicked and have never thought about mercy and Heaven? He hears only the good people and those who worship in the synagogues. How can we lay up treasures in heaven when God does not hear us? Remember, we are in prison.”

“God is everywhere,” Jesus answered, “even in your hearts. He is in this dungeon and at the same time He is in all the world. Nothing is impossible with Him – He knows no bounds and is all-powerful. Remember He is Spirit. Why do you try to restrict Him even with a thought? Try living for Him – even here you can gain merit and eternal freedom.

“Did you know that God in His Humanity said, 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy?' Think about those words, for in them lies a tremendous promise and gift. Rebuild your lives around that beautiful foundation of truth, for it is a way of living close to God while you are yet on earth. Never forget how you have enjoyed the gifts Turan has given you. She sustained you in health and gave you moral courage because you lived for that one hour in which she came to you – all because she dared to do good for the love of God. Remember, she did not do these perilous deeds of mercy because she loved you – rather she did them because she knew she was pleasing God. Follow her way, and in little things become coworkers with God, doing good to souls.”

One prisoner said, “You talk with wisdom and as if You had great authority. Could You be the Messiah we have looked for? You are here because You claim to be God. Let us hear Your own statement. Won't You show us a miracle that we may believe?”

Jesus answered, “Whom do you think I am?”

The man said, “I think You are the Messiah. No other living man could have convinced me of God's mercy as You have. Also I would like the Messiah to be like You.”

Most of the other prisoners just looked baffled and afraid. How terrible if He were God – for they had struck Him.