| When we started our
discussions of the works of mercy our son said in surprise, "Hey, I've done
that!" He was thrilled. He started listing the things that "counted" as
works of mercy, such as assisting in our local soup kitchen with the Boy
Scouts, taking the Eucharist to the homebound of our parish, being an altar
server at funerals, and setting aside his lightly-used clothes and toys to
give to charity. We asked how he felt about doing
all these works of mercy. He thought about it for awhile, then responded,
"It makes me feel good. It probably helps me more than it helps them." Out
of the mouths of babes! He summed up the need for works in addition to faith
in just one sentence.
Satisfying another's physical needs is part of the
seventh
commandment (Thou shalt not steal). It helps us develop a social
conscience so that we have no inclination to take from others, only to love
and ensure justice for others. Once we recognize the needs of others, we
begin to see the face of God in every living being, born and unborn, rich
and poor, sick and healthy, young and old. We develop the strength to stand
up for the less fortunate, even at the expense of our own comfort.
Why not take a few minutes to read Luke 16:19-31? It is
the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The sin of the rich man is not in
being rich, it is in failing to notice poor Lazarus. It is the things we
fail to do that are our downfall. Joyfully performing corporal works
of mercy is a witness to God's love and justice. |
| We often joke that
being a parent means constantly performing spiritual works of mercy.
Realizing this makes us incredibly hopeful. After all, God is our Father,
and we perform these works for which He is the role model. Throughout the
Gospels we see Jesus saving souls with love and mercy. We, too, are called
to follow His lead. It may be easier to perform
spiritual works of mercy with children, but we are called to do the same
with all people. It is important to love our neighbor by correcting him
gently when he is misguided. Teaching, counseling, comforting, and praying
for each other and our departed loved ones are of primary importance. The
most difficult of the spiritual works of mercy may be bearing wrongs
patiently. Our tendency is to strike back. However, we cannot change people
with force or manipulation. True conversion comes only with love. |
