"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child." (1 Corinthians 13:11)
In my youth, almsgiving simply meant giving money to a poor person; as an adult, it means performing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy for the love of God.
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
1. Feed the hungry. And Jesus called together his disciples, and said: I have compassion on the multitudes, because they continue with me now three days, and have not what to eat, and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. (Matthew 15: 32) ...And they did all eat, and had their fill. (Matthew 15:37)
2. Give drink to the thirsty. "There cometh a woman of Samaria, to draw water. Jesus saith to her: Give me to drink." (John 4:7); "Jesus answered, and said to her: If thou didst know the gift of God, and who he is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou perhaps wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." (John 4:10)
3. Clothe the naked. "And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none..." (Luke 3:11)
4. Shelter the homeless. "But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him; and seeing him, was moved with compassion. And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:33-34)
5. Visit the sick. "Be not slow to visit the sick: for by these things thou shalt be confirmed in love." (Ecclesiasticus 7:39)
6. Visit the imprisoned. "Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [...] I was in prison, and you came to me." (Matthew 25:34-36)
7. Bury the dead. "They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19:40-42)
"Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh." (Isaias 58:7)
The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy
1. Admonish the sinner. "Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple, and saith to him: Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee." (John 5:14)
2. Instruct the ignorant. "And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. (Matthew 5:2-12)
3. Counsel the doubtful. "Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20:27)
4. Comfort the sorrowful. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress... (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
5. Bear wrongs patiently. "The learning of a man is known by patience and his glory is to pass over wrongs." (Proverbs 19:11)
6. Forgive offenses. "Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)
7. Pray for the living and the dead. "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2 Machabees 12:46)
"When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt satisfy the afflicted soul then shall thy light rise up in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as the noonday." (Isaias 58:10)
CALL TO ACTION: Perform at least one of these acts of mercy each day of the week.
Photo by Josh Appel