April 12, 2026- Pastor Message
April 11, 2026THE WORKS OF MERCY THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY (cont.)
THE WORKS OF MERCY
THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY (cont.)
“In the days of Shalmaneser I had performed many charitable deeds for my kindred, members of my people. I would give bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked. If I saw one of my people who had died and been thrown behind the wall of Nineveh, I used to bury him” (Tobit 1:16-17).
During Lent, we spent some time in this column reviewing the traditional works of mercy as part of our participation in the country’s 250th anniversary. Recall that together with the Church throughout the United States, we as a parish have committed to completing 250 hours of adoration and 250 hours of service by carrying out both the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We conclude our reflection on the corporal works of mercy this weekend by taking a look at visiting the imprisoned, burying the dead, and giving alms to the poor.
Ministry to the imprisoned has been part of the Church’s mission from practically the very beginning. Consider that Jesus himself was imprisoned and executed as a criminal, as were almost all of the apostles. As a persecuted group, Christians in the ancient world were often arrested and subjected to legal penalties, so visiting and providing aid to their imprisoned brothers and sisters in the faith was a common practice among early Christians. This practice continued after Christianity was legalized and still does today in various ways, including the service of Catholic chaplains, Bible studies, prayer groups, and retreats in prisons. Regardless of why or how people find themselves incarcerated, the Church’s service to them is a powerful testament to the mercy of God, which knows no bounds.
Burying the dead with reverence has also been a practice of the Church from the very beginning. Consider again the care with which Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Jesus after his death and that the first witnesses of the risen Jesus were the women, including Mary Magdalene, who came to his tomb to complete the funeral rites. Burying the dead is more than just a custom borrowed from other cultures or a formality. For us as Christians, it is an expression of our faith that the dead will rise again with Jesus on the last day. Early Christians would celebrate Mass over the graves of the dead, and even today, Catholic cemeteries are consecrated as sacred ground, affirming our faith that those who die in Christ and are buried with him will also share in his resurrection, which is also why we pray for the dead and offer Masses for them.
Finally, we arrive at what may be the most obvious work of mercy, giving alms to the poor. The word, alms, actually comes from the Greek word for mercy, and so giving alms really is emblematic of all the works of mercy. Christ tells us that our final judgment will depend on how we care for the poor (Matthew 25:31-46), and the Church has made care for the poor and those in need a central part of our life from the very beginning (Acts 4:32-37). There is no greater sign of God’s loving and completely gratuitous grace in Christ than meeting the needs of someone who cannot repay us. May we follow Christ’s example in his name by carrying out all the works of mercy for those in need in our community and world, and don’t forget to write the works of mercy you do on the board in the gathering space!
Fr. Marc Stockton
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