The Year of Mercy has officially
begun! We all need to think about how we can celebrate the Year of Mercy, participate
in it, meditate on it, and bring it to life in our own homes.
Let’s look at the Corporal Works of
Mercy and think about how we can do these during the Year of Mercy. Maybe we
can’t do all the things on this list, but let’s try to do something that is
doable for us individually and among our families.
+ Feed the hungry – Do you know of a family in
need in your neighborhood? Maybe it’s just the family right next door, or the single
parent you run into at PTO meetings, or one of your siblings? Invite them over
for dinner. Give them a gift card to a grocery store. Take them casseroles or
canned foods when you think of it. If you have leftovers, ask them to come over
and help you finish them off. Take canned foods, fruits & veggies, to your
local food bank, St. Vincent de Paul, or church. Volunteer at one of those three,
and help to put food on someone else’s plate.
+ Give drink to the thirsty — Let’s think of another aspect of
thirst; those who are lonely, those who seek company & the loving touch of
another, and those who have yet to know the loving Hand of God. Speak of God’s
goodness to all you come in contact with; you never know whose hearts you may
change in those types of conversations. Participate in a 40 Days for Life
campaign, pray for the unborn, and provide help for mothers in crisis
pregnancies. Consider teaching a faith formation class or RCIA. Help others to
understand the Faith and Church teachings more clearly; or, take this
opportunity to realize you have a lot more to learn yourself (I know I do!),
and crack open the Catechism. When you’re done reading it, pass it along to
someone else. Know someone struggling with their faith or going through a hard
time? Don’t just tell them you will pray for them, but take a moment to be with
them and pray for them right there, with them. This is what Jesus did.
+ Clothe the naked — Take the clothes you’ve outgrown
and no longer need, and give them to those who are in need. That might be to a
family you know, or to an organization who will give them to a family who could
use them. Check out the St. Vincent de Paul Society, or even ask your Church if
they’re collecting clothes for families and children. Carry an extra pair of
gloves or scarves in your car, and if you run into someone who looks like they
could use some, hand them over. Ask God to keep your eyes open for who needs
them the most. He’ll point you in the right direction.
+ Shelter the homeless — Do you have the space to invite
family and friends over into your home, to use your home to bless them, and
warm them up? Do it. If you don’t, but you have the time, or money, or energy
(or all three), consider how you can give those treasures to a homeless shelter
to help them shelter the homeless. Many homeless shelters need sheets,
blankets, and toiletries. See what your local shelter might need, and see how
you can help provide for the families staying there.
+ Visit the sick — Consider visiting a nursing home.
Many of the people living in nursing homes are far away from family, and
they’re lonely. Think of how you can cheer them up with a card, a joke, a
Christmas carol, or just sitting with them for a few minutes on a Saturday. If
that’s a little out of your comfort zone, how about thinking of the sick family
members who might be closer to home for you? (Grandparents? Elderly family
members? A sick sibling, or niece/nephew?) Spend a little extra time with them,
and try to bring a smile to their face even in the midst of their suffering. PRAY
WITH THEM J
+ Visit the imprisoned — I know one priest who regularly
goes to a men’s prison to minister to the men there. While we may not all be
able to do that, we can think of other ways to reach out to those imprisoned;
we can write them a letter or a Christmas card reminding them of their dignity
and of God’s love for them — and His forgiveness and mercy for them. Aside from
that, think of others who may feel imprisoned; those who are stuck in the
hospital during the holidays, those who suffer with anxiety & depression, and
those whose life’s circumstances may feel crippling — like debt, chronic
illnesses, marital problems, or infertility. Do you know someone suffering with any of
those situations? Visit them, sit with them, and listen to their struggles. Try
to help them navigate seeing God’s hand even in such difficult and heavy
circumstances. Always point them to God while also recognizing the heaviness of
their crosses.
+ Bury the dead —If you or someone you know
loses a loved one, attend their funeral and pray for the repose of their soul.
Have a Mass celebrated for that intention, and remember to pray for the souls
in purgatory. If you don’t know someone who has passed away recently and can’t
attend their funeral, you can still find out when funeral Masses are celebrated
at your parish. Consider it an opportunity — a nudge by God — to pray for that
person that you didn’t know, and for the repose of their soul. Another way to
bury the dead? Help your loved ones who are grieving cope with their grief.
Help someone who has suffered the loss of a child (born or unborn), and help
them to celebrate the life of their child.
These are just
a few ideas--I hope these suggestions help you and your families become more merciful
to those around you. I also highly recommend reading the Diary of St. Faustina,
and joining us in prayer over at www.praymorenovenas.com when we pray the Divine Mercy
Novena. This year should be a time for us to be a witness of
God’s love, and of the transformation that takes place within our hearts
because of His mercy.
(Original
ideas from praymorenovenas.com and catholicwifecatholiclife.com)