Catholicism 101: Not Just Spirits, Faith Incarnate

In our continuing "Catholicism 101" series with Father Tony, the current question was related to the Corporal Works of Mercy.  We have a monthly series of speakers who share about one of the Corporal Works of Mercy, with an invitation to our students for ways for them to each consider how they are called to serve the people around them.  While the speakers have been good, and the information has been important, we were missing an element of the "why" we do them.

Father Tony had answers to the "WHY?" tonight!  First, our relationship with the Lord is expressed through our relationships with other people.  If we truly love the Lord, and put Him at the center of our lives, it will be reflected in how we interact with the people in our lives.

Second, Father Tony addressed the question of whether we are saved by faith alone by referring us to Matthew 25, where the final judgment is addressed.  Six of the seven Corporal Works of Mercy were addressed as the sheep and the goats were sorted:  when you fed the hungry, when you clothed the nake, when you gave drink to the thirsty, you did this for the Lord.  Those people were welcomed to inherit the kingdom.  Those who did not, also did not for the Lord, and were turned away.

Corporal refers to the body.  By calling our attention to serving others through the Corporal Works of Mercy, we are reminded that Jesus cares about us, and our lives, in the present, not just in the eternal sense.  We need to be aware of the needs of people around us.  We know people who didn't have enough food in their homes.  We might be people who didn't have enough food in our homes.  It is our responsibility to see those needs in others, and to help meet those needs.

Jesus was quite clear.  What we do to others, we do to Him.  

Thank you to Father Tony for sharing his witness with us tonight.  Thank you to all of our students who took the time out of their schedules to grow their faith in community with each other.