Acts of Mercy
Compassion and Mercy
Reflection By Scott Stoner
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?
- James 2:14
For many centuries the Church has taught the importance of what are known as the Seven Acts of Mercy, which are to: give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoners, and to bury the dead. The first six of these come from Matthew 25, where Jesus says, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me” (Matt. 25:35-36). The Church later added the seventh act, to bury the dead, which included providing a proper burial for all people, as well as caring for those who are grieving.
The importance of the Acts of Mercy can also be seen in the passage above from James. To paraphrase, one could say, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to say you have compassion but do not express your compassion through acts of mercy?”
As a person of faith, I see the Acts of Mercy as an invitation and a reminder to put my faith into action. When I am conscious of these acts and pray to be open to seeing a specific way I might express one of these acts, I always encounter an opportunity to do so. I invite you to bring these Acts of Mercy into your prayers and see what opportunities open up for you to express compassion to others.
Making it Personal: Is there a particular act of the Seven Acts of Mercy that you feel called to offer to someone in your life? Are there others acts of mercy that you would add to this list? If so, what are they?