take heart. Hope in the Lord!” (Ps 27:1, 7,14). The Lord calls out to us to hope, to hold firm and trust in His compassionate love without wavering for He is faithful. At the same time, He commands us “to love one another as [He] has loved us. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:12-13). We are to love one another through works of love and mercy. The Gospel parables of the Good Samaritan, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Unforgiving Servant all demonstrate this essential truth that only if we give mercy can we hope to receive it; for we will be judged on the basis of our merciful actions toward others: “I was hungry and you gave me food …”(Mt 25:35-46). I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it. … Even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (742). If a soul does not exercise mercy in some way, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment (1317). The Lord instructs us to exercise mercy through our words, prayers, the spiritual and corporal works of 17 Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy Corporal 1. Feed the hungry. 2. Give drink to the thirsty. 3. Clothe the naked. 4. Shelter the homeless. 5. Visit the imprisoned. 6. Visit the sick. 7. Bury the dead. 1. Admonish sinners. 2. Instruct the ignorant. 3. Counsel the doubtful. 4. Comfort the afflicted. 5. Bear wrongs patiently. 6. Forgive offenses. 7. Pray for the living & dead. Spiritual
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==