Corporate Acts of Mercy

Way back in College, there were weeks when my allowance would get delayed and I had to find ways and mean to make do with the few resources left with me. Once I had to survive on seven pieces of pan de sal, for seven days. Not only did God hep me to survive that time, He also gave me a sensitivity to other people’s needs and a desire to share, whenever I can, with those who are hungry.

Feeding the hungry is one of seven “corporal acts of mercy”, a tradition of the Catholic Church that stems from Jesus’ teaching session in Matthew 25. In these verses, Jesus welcomes those who will inherit the kingdom of God because “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”. Jesus then explains that whenever we do any of these to the least of his brothers, we do it to Him.

In today’s language these “bodily” or material acts of mercy may be understood as:

1. Feeding the hungry: Providing food for those in need.

2. Giving drink to the thirsty: Offering water or beverages.

3. Clothing the naked: Providing clothing for those lacking it.

4. Sheltering the homeless: Offering harbor to the harborless or hospitality to travelers or immigrants.

5. Visiting the sick: Caring for and spending time with those who are ill.

6. Visiting the imprisoned: Comforting and supporting those in prison.

7. Burying the dead: Treating the deceased with dignity and supporting grieving families. 

Keeping our eyes and hearts open, we can see opportunities to perform these acts of mercy in our daily routine, through the people we usually meet. We may, for example, share an extra sandwich with a workmate who needs more food. We may hand down clothes that no longer fit us. We might be able to accommodate visiting relatives. We can offer our condolences to friends and kin who have lost a loved one, etc.

We can also take more deliberate efforts to help the differently-abled, or visit those who are detained, or do any of these merciful deeds. We could help dig water wells. We could organize a relief effort to donate food and clothes to victims of disasters. We could contribute “sweat equity” to build homes for the homeless.

Simple acts or deliberate efforts, what matters is that we do these things with a genuine desire to seek the good of others.

What simple “act of mercy” can you do today?