Preach the Gospel: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Yesterday, the 3rd Grade Faith Formation lesson that we presented was "The Good News".

Our class learned about the Gospels and the Kingdom of God. They learned the terms "Messiah", "synagogue", and "parables".

They also learned that actions often speak louder than words.

St. Francis said

“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words when necessary.”

One way that we can help grow the Kingdom of God is by practicing the Corporal Works of Mercy.

Corporal refers to the needs of the body. Mercy is another term for love or charity. The Corporal Works of Mercy are hope filled actions directed especially towards the poor, neglected, maltreated, lonely, and forgotten.

The Church has taught us to understand these actions as the Corporal Works of Mercy, but we get them from Jesus, Who in one of His parables said,

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

The Corporal Works of Mercy are

• Feed the hungry

• Give drink to the thirsty

• Clothe the naked

• Shelter the homeless

• Visit the sick

• Visit the imprisoned

• Bury the dead

Their homework this week is to share the Good News with someone using words and to share the Good News with someone using actions.

Let's do our homework too.

Pope Francis and Works of Mercy

Most Catholic children are taught to some degree or another about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Unfortunately, as with many other "lessons", there has been a disconnect of the matter at hand and the reasoning and/or benefits of such.

There is certainly not enough space or time in this little blog to give  a complete catechetical explanation, nor am I fully equipped to present such even if there were. However, I think it is helpful to point out that the exterior act of these works are initiated from the interior, from the Christian heart, always experiencing continuing conversion.

As the Christian continues on the path of conversion, he sees the world more and more through the eyes of God; a world in desperate need of God's mercy and love. How is the world to experience God's mercy and love if not through us?

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light - St. Augustine

Here's a look at the works of mercy.

Corporal works of mercy:

• Feed the hungry
• Give drink to the thirsty
• Clothe the naked
• Shelter the homeless
• Visit the sick
• Visit the imprisoned
• Bury the dead.

Spiritual works of mercy: 

• Admonish the sinner
• Instruct the ignorant
• Counsel the doubtful
• Comfort the sorrowful
• Bear wrongs patiently
• Forgive offences willingly
• Pray for the living and the dead.

I have come to serve.

Pope Francis will be celebrating Holy Thursday Mass with the imprisoned at a juvenile detention center. Apparently, it has been his custom as Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass in prisons, hospitals, etc.