Continuing my blog from yesterday, I want to copy from the leaflet I mentioned then. It's a very good guide to understanding the Works of Mercy--both spiritual and corporal. I'm going to take about a week, and give short meditations each day on a few of the works.
Admonish Sinners--Correction is sometimes as hard to give as it is to take. It means standing up for moral principles at work, at school, in politics, or in the home. It means taking the time to give needed correction, even discipline, especially to children whose minds are impressionable and whose wills are not yet steadfast in truth.
Instruct the uninformed--Not everyone can be a schoolteacher, but taking time out to help a child with math or spelling or religion homework is instruction as well. So is "showing the ropes" to a new person at work, teaching CCD, and reminding oneself and one's family about basic morality. In a Godless environment, a word about one's own religious values often leaves a thought provoking impression on others.
Counsel the doubtful--As the saying goes, "Advice is cheap", but counsel implies something more loving. It's a Christian approach to solving problems. Doubts about one's faith--about abortion, marriage, or questions arising from death or divorce--do not need a brush-off with a lame excuse. Doubts need direction in the Christian point of view, solicited or not.
I'll write on the last 4 spiritual works tomorrow, then tackle the 7 corporal works on Monday and Tuesday. I'll tie it all together on Thursday with some entries from St. Faustina's diary.
I hope this little exercise in Instructing the Uninformed will be helpful to you on your Lenten journey.
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