Episode Transcript  

One

“Blessed are the Merciful”

A lot of the beatitudes are sort of tricky and counterintuitive. Why would someone be lucky to be poor? Why would someone be blessed if they’re mourning? How could meek people be the one’s to take over the earth?

Fortunately, when we get to the fifth beatitude, things get a little clearer.

We hear Jesus say, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!” and we think, “Well, that makes sense. It’s only fair that you would get what you give, and that if you’re merciful to others, God will be merciful to you.”

But now stop and think again: when was the last time you were actually merciful to someone? And are you planning to be merciful to someone today? And how?

You see, even if the fifth beatitude makes sense abstractly, it can be hard to see how you should put in practice concretely.

Fortunately, the Church has given us a list, called the “Works of Mercy” (see the Catechism, #2447). 

So let’s use that list right now to see whether we’re being merciful, and how to start being merciful in new ways. 

Two

The Corporal Works of Mercy

The works of mercy that tend to our physical needs are the corporal or physical works of mercy. These are the kinds of works of mercy Jesus talked about when He explained the Last judgment. 

There are Seven of them:

Feeding the hungry, 

giving drink to the thirsty, 

sheltering the homeless, 

clothing the naked, 

ransoming the captive (“ransoming the captive” applies par excellence to the pro-life movement, that is, trying to save the babies held captive by the culture of death.

caring for the sick and imprisoned, and 

burying the dead  

Listen to that list again. Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, ransoming the captive, caring for the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead.

Are you regularly doing any of those things? 

Remember Jesus’ words to the sheep, the ones who had practiced the corporal works of mercy:  “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” 

 And remember what He said to the goats those who had not practiced the corporal works of mercy: “Depart from me, you accursed… whenever you did it not to one of the least of my brethren, you did it not to me. 

Three

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Of course, humans are a composite of body and soul, and the soul is the more important part. 

Which means that however critical the physical works of mercy are, the spiritual works are even more important. Here they are, the seven spiritual works of mercy:

instructing 

counseling 

admonishing 

comforting 

praying for the living and the dead 

forgiving willingly, and 

bearing wrongs patiently. 

Which of those spiritual works have you done lately? Which have you not done? Who in your life needs one of these soon or today? 

Four

Take Personal Responsibility for Helping Your Loved Ones to Heaven

The spiritual works of mercy means we do everything we can to help our loved ones to heaven. 

Most Catholics assume that helping others get to Heaven is the job of a priest, a program, or someone more “qualified.” It’s not.

It’s your job.

If someone you love is drifting away from God—if a friend is on a trajectory to hell—you must do something.

Faith is personal—but never private.

Jesus gave us a model: the Good Samaritan.

The priest and the Levite saw the wounded man—but walked past.

The Samaritan took personal responsibility and got involved.

Your path to holiness runs through the ditch where your loved one lies wounded.

God has placed specific people in your life. You are their Good Samaritan.

And we are forming a Good Samaritan Army—an apostolic movement of ordinary Catholics who take spiritual responsibility for their loved ones.

The most effective way to help someone come to God is person-to-person, friend-to-friend.

Build a bridge of friendship and trust.

Walk with them.

Be patient and persistent. Conversion is a slow growth, not a quick fix.

Now this will surprise you – But this is not primarily about them – it’s about you. 

Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying: Helping others is the foundation stone of your recovery.

We would say - your growth in faith depends on you helping others. 

The Sea of Galilee teems with life because water flows in and flows out.

The Dead Sea is lifeless because it only receives and never gives.

If you’re not helping others grow in faith, your own will shrink and die.

Five

To Whom Should You Show Mercy?

The works of mercy give us ideas for the kind of mercy we should be showing people.

But which people should we prioritize showing mercy to?

Well, the Church gives us the two primary demographics: 

Those who are closest to us, and 

Those who are most in need 

Those who are closest to us – whether in the family or friends – give us countless opportunities to show the spiritual works of mercy.

We instruct and correct our kids,

We comfort and forgive our parents willingly, 

We bear wrongs patiently from our spouse, or our ex-spouse, or our boss, or our difficult and unstable siblings or in-laws or co-workers. 

We pray and sacrifice by name for people we know who are having a hard time, and for the souls of those we love who have passed on. 

And we build bridges of friendship that give us opportunities to invite them to encounter Christ. 

And then there are Those who are most in need, and they provide the privileged opportunity to practice the corporal works of mercy

Sometimes that happens with our own families.

Whether it’s our little kids whom we have to feed and clothe.

Or it’s our elderly parents, who we have to visit during their convalescence, or care for in their sickness, or find a place for them to stay in their last years or their last hours. 

Or the person who left the Church and you need to take the initiative with. They won’t listen to you until you have demonstrated that you truly know, understand, love and care for them unconditionally. 

So what is you resolution? What is your concrete strategy to practice a work of mercy in some concrete form today. Without a resolution we probably won’t. 

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.