Category: Corporal Works of Mercy

And I say to you, make friends for yourselves with the mammon of wickedness, so that when you fail they may receive you into the everlasting dwellings.

Luke 16:1-9

REFLECTION – Brethren and friends, let us by no means be wicked stewards of God’s gift to us. If we are we will have to listen to Saint Peter saying: “Be ashamed, you who hold back what belongs to another, take as an example the justice of God and no one will be poor. While others suffer poverty, let us not labor to hoard and pile up money, for if we do, holy Amos will threaten us sharply in these words: “Hear this, you who say: ‘When will the new moon be over that we may sell; and the Sabbath, that we may open up our treasures?’”

Let us imitate the first and most important law of God, “who sends his rain on the just and on sinners and makes the sun shine on every person equally”. God opens up the earth, the springs, the streams and the woods to all who live in the world. He gives the air to the birds, the water to the fish, and the basic needs of life abundantly to all, without restriction or limitation or preference. These basic goods are common to all, provided by God generously and with nothing lacking. He has done this so that creatures of the same nature may receive equal gifts and that he may show us how rich is his kindness…So imitate this divine mercy.

He who has mercy on the poor, lends to God, it says. Who would not accept such a debtor, who will repay the loan in due time with interest? And again: By alms and faith sins are cleansed. Let us then be cleansed by showing mercy, let us wash away with the good herb the filth and defilements of our souls; and let us be made white, some as wool, some as snow, according to the proportion of our compassion.

St Gregory Nazianzen (Homily 14, on love for the poor)

PRAYER – My Lord Jesus Christ,
You have made this journey
to die for me, with love unutterable
and I have so many times unworthily abandoned You
but now I love You with my whole heart
and because I love You,
I repent sincerely for having ever offended You.
Pardon me, my God
and permit me to accompany You on this journey.
You go to die for love of me,
I wish also, my beloved Redeemer,
to die for love of Thee.
My Jesus, I will live
and die always united to You.”
Amen – By St Alphonsus Mary Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church