Last year, as you may recall, the Holy Father declared a year of mercy for our church. A year of God’s mercy and God’s grace. Well, I borrowed that little phrase, a “year of mercy” and I wrote a book called, “Years of Mercy”, based on my experience here at Mercy Home. As a matter of fact, the book came out September 30th of this past year. Years of God’s mercy.

In the Gospel today, we hear about a corporal act of mercy. What we do as a church, as a community right now, is a spiritual act of mercy. Celebrating the Eucharist, praying for one another, praying for the needs of the world. But corporal acts of mercy are putting our faith into action, like giving a cold cup of water to one who is hungry and thirsty. We heard in that first reading today how the prophet is cared for. He comes into a home and what do they do? They provide food for him. They provide drink for him. They provide shelter for him. And they provide water for him. Hospitality. Corporal acts of mercy, caring for those who are in need.

The reward that comes in that first reading today is the gift of a child, a gift of a son. A mother who has no children, a son who will care for her in her old age. At Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, all of our children are involved with corporal acts of mercy. We have all of them caring for the poor and doing for others. It’s part and parcel of what it means to live the Christian life. Part and parcel of what we’re all called to do as disciples of Jesus.