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The Corporal Works of Mercy |
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By Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM
From the documents of the Sisters of Mercy:
"We ought to have great confidence in God in the dis-
charge of our works of Mercy - the business of our
lives."
Catherine McAuley
From Scripture: Matthew 25:31-40
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep form the goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Song: "The Least of These" from "Land of the Living" by Janet Sullivan Whitaker
There's a hungry one, lives in the street.
There's a thirsty one without a cup to drink.
There's a little one with no shoes on her feet.
There's a family sleeping in the rain,
And the one abused will never be the same,
The addicted one with no one left to blame.
All of these are my people.
All of these long to be free.
All of these are my beloved.
All of these are me.
So when you hold out your hand selflessly,
And give help to the stranger in need,
Then whatever you do to the least of these,
You do to me.
In a prison, so far from home,
I was lonely, so bitter and alone.
Evicted. Illegal. Incurable. Different. Despised.
I was locked out - but you took me in.
I was at the end, you helped me to begin.
I'm a lot like you: Sister, Brother and Friend.
So follow me into the Kingdom.
Follow me, for you have been wise.
Follow me, you who have known me,
I was right before your eyes.
Reflection Questions for Prayer and Faith Sharing:
- Who are the hungry and thirsty in my life?
- How am I attempting to respond to their hunger and thirst?
- What does it mean to be a stranger? Who are the strangers in my life that are in need of welcome?
Psalm 72
Bring justice to the people, O Beloved,
and your mercy to all generations.
May the people be known for mercy,
rendering justice to the poor.
Let their spirits soar as the eagle,
let joy abide in every heart!
May we hear the cry of the poor -
the young and the old,
helping to free all those in need,
awakening the souls of the oppressors!
May we know ones with you
as long as the sun endures,
as long as the stars shine,
throughout all generations
May we acknowledge you in the rain
falling on the fields,
like showers that water the earth.
In our day may justice flourish and peace abound
throughout all the nations.
May every heart open to your love
from sea to sea,
from the river of life out to the universe.
May the fears that paralyze the people
rise up from the depths into your light.
May the leaders of nations from all the earth
listen to love's voice;
May they spend time in silence before they counsel.
May the leaders surrender to your love,
and the nations serve the Most High.
For you heed the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no friend.
You have compassion on the weak, the downtrodden,
giving them strength and hope.
From injustice and oppression,
You redeem their life;
and proclaim they are precious in your heart.
Glory to you, God of all peoples,
to Jesus, Healer and Friend, and to the
Spirit dwelling within.
Praise be yours forever. Amen.
Antiphon: "The spirit of the Congregation is one of mercy toward the poor and afflicted in whom they shall see Christ himself."
Prayer Moving to Action: As you have prayed, what has stirred in you? What does it require of you?
Closing Prayer: Gracious God, by courageous, contagious concern for the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the poor, the sick and the ignorant, Catherine McAuley
broke through the impossibilities of her time. She animated many to walk with her. She animated others at the centers of wealth, power and influence to share in her heroic efforts. She connected the rich to the poor, the healthy to the sick, the educated to the uninstructed, the influential to those of no consequence to do the work of God on earth. We pray in our time to do the same. Amen.
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