God's Mercy Extended to Us
“Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.” ~ the closing prayer of the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Mercy is the unmerited, unwarranted love which is poured out regardless of whether or not it is accepted. This love is perfected and continuously given to humanity through God, who is love. All of salvation history is the story of God showering mercy on humanity even in the face of rejection, and showing that there are no limits to the mercy offered–to the point of sending His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us. This mercy which is “endless” and “inexhaustible”, as St. Faustina describes, invites us to not only receive the fullness of it, but to allow mercy to overflow out of us and into others. When we receive God’s mercy, the only response we can have is to share it with others, and this is done through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Mercy is the unmerited, unwarranted love which is poured out regardless of whether or not it is accepted. This love is perfected and continuously given to humanity through God, who is love. All of salvation history is the story of God showering mercy on humanity even in the face of rejection, and showing that there are no limits to the mercy offered–to the point of sending His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us. This mercy which is “endless” and “inexhaustible”, as St. Faustina describes, invites us to not only receive the fullness of it, but to allow mercy to overflow out of us and into others. When we receive God’s mercy, the only response we can have is to share it with others, and this is done through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Living Out Mercy Through Corporal and Spiritual Works
The Catechism tells us that “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice" (CCC 2446). As Catholics, we are called by the Church to exercise the virtue of justice and give others what they are due through works of mercy. This is lived out through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Corporal Works of Mercy
Food is a fundamental and basic human need. Food is what nourishes us in order to be able to simply live. Feeding the hungry means providing nourishment through charity and hospitality. You can do this by working at a soup kitchen, inviting some friends over for a meal, sharing a snack with someone who's forgotten their lunch, or giving someone on the street a sandwich.
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Visiting the imprisoned can be difficult to participate in without special clearance or permission. If you find yourself unable to physically visit the imprisoned, try getting involved in a ministry that writes letters to the imprisoned or one that organizes retreats for them. Those incarcerated, and their families, can always use our intercessory prayer.
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Water is the very essence of life. To give drink to the thirsty is to offer them life itself. Giving drink to the thirsty can be lived out by volunteering at a soup kitchen, contributing funds to clean water and well projects in underdeveloped countries or even within a family, as a mother provides food and drink to her children. You can also be mindful of your own water consumption and try not to waste water.
Having a roof over our heads is a basic human need. Sheltering the homeless can take many forms. These include giving time or money to a homeless ministry, hosting someone like a religious pilgrim, speaker or clergy member, supporting ministries that work with the displaced or refugees, or volunteering to help build houses through an organization like Habitat for Humanity.
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During funerals, we mourn the loss of life. As Christians, we live in the hope of the Resurrection. Participate in this work of mercy by offering condolences or sending a card to someone who has lost a loved one. Pray for those who have gone before you whenever you pass a cemetery or go to a cemetery intentionally to pray.
There are many ways to give. Some donate to charitable organizations, others might volunteer their time working with the needy. One idea is to skip a drink, coffee or meal out each week and instead give the money you would have spent to a charitable organization or to put in the church collection basket. However you give, consider giving a little more time, energy, or money in order to benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need.
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Visiting the sick can mean going to the hospital and praying with patients there, bringing a sick family member or friend flowers or something to eat, visiting a nursing home, or offering someone going through an illness support. Our health is a gift and blessing, let us give thanks for this blessing by reaching out to those who are in need.
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Spiritual Works of Mercy
Counseling the doubtful means helping guide someone towards truth. As Christians, our lives should be a witness to the truth that God sent his only Son to redeem us and invite us to share in his life forever. Each of us, however, can go through moments of doubt, and the Church calls us to walk with those who are experiencing this doubt. Some examples could include: a priest guiding a person towards a life of virtue in confession; a mother or father instructing or correcting their children; a spiritual director helping someone grow in their spiritual life; a teacher helping their students learn a certain subject.
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Forgiveness often is not our natural response when we have been hurt or wounded. It's much easier to close up, hold a grudge or avoid the problem altogether. As Christians, we know that only forgiveness will lead us to true freedom. Try to understand why someone might have hurt you. Does it stem from their own woundedness? Pray for those that have harmed you. Actively choose to forgive those who have hurt you in the past. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and ask God to give you the grace to grow in that same mercy.
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Our Catholic faith is incredibly deep and rich. Knowing all of it can be impossible, but it's important to learn as much about it as we can! Instructing the ignorant means teaching others how to live according to the Gospel and how to be followers of Christ. This can include formal Catechesis, helping in an RCIA program, volunteering in youth ministry, teaching Religion classes or religious education, or even teaching your children or family members about different prayers, devotions, or Church teaching.
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Because we live in a fallen world, we face injustice throughout our lives. Do not fear asking God for the strength to encounter hardship and sorrow with patience when it arises. There will be moments when you feel unjustly treated by co-workers, family, friends, or even by God himself. Ask for clarity, patience and joy in the midst of these trials. Pray for those who have treated you unjustly, and ask God to show you mercy for the times you have treated others unjustly.
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Admonishing the sinner means helping someone who has fallen off track get back on the path towards holiness. We all fall at different points of our life. Sometimes, we need help choosing the good and staying on the path towards heaven. James 5:19 says, "whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way...will cover a multitude of sins." Admonishing the sinner can include a priest helping guide someone in confession, a spiritual director pointing out some negative patterns or tendencies in a person's life, a friend or roommate sitting down in love to point out some wrong behavior or actions to a loved one. Admonishing the sinner should never be easy. We do not admonish out of spite or pride, but as a merciful act of love to bring someone closer to the heart of the Father.
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Prayer unites us not only with God, but with each other. We are called to pray, as the Church, for the other members of the Body of Christ. Some of these members have gone before us. We pray for the repose of their souls, especially within our families, so that we may hope to join them one day in heaven. We also pray for the needs of our friends, family and those of the whole world. Ask a friend or family member how you can best pray for them. Write down a list of prayer intentions and bring them with you to Mass or the chapel. Offer up your day, work or activities for the needs of those around you. Offer up a Mass for a deceased loved one or family member.
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We all experience different moments of sorrow in our lives. Comforting the sorrowful involves reaching out to those having a hard time and accompanying them on their journey of grief. Call a friend who's been feeling down and ask them about their day. Send a card to someone going through a difficult time. Listen to and comfort a friend who needs to vent or cry. Don't forget the value in simple accompaniment.
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