- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To clothe the naked;
- To harbour the harbourless;
- To visit the sick;
- To ransom the captive;
- To bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy are:
- To instruct the ignorant;
- To counsel the doubtful;
- To admonish sinners;
- To bear wrongs patiently;
- To forgive offences willingly;
- To comfort the afflicted;
- To pray for the living and the dead.
[from New Advent]
I was especially reminded of how I need to be more consciously making an effort to love my neighbor better through various opportunities that seem to be endlessly emerging around me, however I have been lazy, desensitized, in denial, etc.
Just standing outside Everett Planned Parenthood, there are many opportunities as well. Not just an opportunity to pray for the living and the dead, but also to counsel the doubtful, to instruct the ignorant, to admonish sinners (though our culture accuses this spiritual work as bigotry, being judgmental, etc.), to bear wrong patiently, to forgive offenses willingly, and to comfort the afflicted; in addition to possibly revealing to us multitude of opportunities to do corporal works of mercy.
Other critical opportunities to do our works of mercy emerged due to some offensive and irresponsible and rather selfish government leaders:
- On Sat. Oct. 20, 2012 at 11 am gather at St. James Cathedral for a procession to US District Court House to Stand Up for Religious Freedom, Seattle! - and Stop HHS Mandate!
- On November 6, Do Not Redefine Marriage. Reject R-74 - mail-in votes are coming in already!!! Please let your family & friends know about this.
Yesterday, as I was seriously overcome by spirit of sloth or my own inclination to not follow my daily responsibilities, I felt a gentle loving presence of our compassionate and merciful God through a Korean talk show called "힐링 캠프: 기쁘지 아니한가?" [Healing Camp: Are you not happy?] run by a very talented team of three hosts. The guest of the episode 35 was a quite well-known actor by my generation who debuted in 1993: 차 인표 (Inpyo Cha).
I didn't realize how powerful his interview was until I tried to repeat what he said about his turning point in his life until I tried to repeat it to my husband this morning. I couldn't because I didn't want to break down and cry this morning. But when my friend Maria called me late morning, I broke down and cried and knew that God was telling me what He told Mr. Cha:
"내가 너를 정말 사랑한다. [이 아이들 하나 하나] 위로하면서 가자 앞으로..." [I REALLY love you. Let us go and console these children by telling them how we love them, each and everyone...]
This message of love is sooo important, especially these days. God loves me, you and everyone. How could we not be happy?!
Mr. Cha has been a messenger of hope for me and a messenger to renew my mission in life: to focus my eyes on God and to follow Him faithfully! Amen!
I also thank St. Therese of Lisieux (aka the Little Flower) because I began Novena asking for her intercession for my prayer intentions: "for me to know and do what I need to do each day in my life with my beloved husband Brad to love and glorify God."
Now I pray that St. Therese pray for Mr. Cha's family (his beautiful wife and actress 신 애라 Ae-ra Shin, who's also a homeschooler, which is very unusual in Korea; her adoption story of their two daughters, and how she met Mr. Cha and their letters of love to each other at the wedding are very admirable; it's also clear that she's against Euthanisia through her own experience of preparing and grieving her mother's death; her dream is also admirable). [ Note: all in Korean]
I came across the an entry in a blog: "당신 덕분에 꽃이 핍니다" [Because of you, flowers are blooming.], in response to the Healing Camp, ep. 35. I am noting here because there were few points that interested me.
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