Seized by Christ

They are experiencing Christianity as joy and hope, having thus become lovers of Christ.

Tag: Faith in Action

The Forgotten Works of Mercy
The Spiritual Works of Mercy We Neglect

When most people think of the works of mercy, they picture food pantries, homeless shelters, hospitals, or clothing drives. And rightly so — these are the corporal works of mercy, the ways we meet Christ in the hungry, the sick, and the poor.

But the Church also teaches about another set of works, just as essential, and perhaps even harder to live out: the spiritual works of mercy.

They are seven in number:
1. To instruct the ignorant
2. To counsel the doubtful
3. To admonish sinners
4. To bear wrongs patiently
5. To forgive offenses willingly
6. To comfort the afflicted
7. To pray for the living and the dead
How often do you hear these preached from the pulpit, or listed on a parish flyer? Not very often. And yet, these are the works that strike at the root of human misery.

They demand courage. It is easier to hand someone a sandwich than to tell them, in love, that they are living in sin. It is easier to donate a coat than to forgive a deep betrayal. It is easier to write a check than to bear wrongs patiently, without bitterness.

The spiritual works of mercy cut straight to the heart of discipleship. They require that we share in Christ’s own patience, His own forgiveness, His own willingness to carry the cross of others.

If Western society has built structures to handle much of the corporal work — food banks, hospitals, relief agencies — then Christians are left with an even greater responsibility. We must be the ones who feed souls.

This does not mean abandoning corporal charity. Rather, it means bringing mercy to its fullness: bread and truth, clothing and forgiveness, shelter and prayer.

The forgotten works of mercy are not optional. They are the lifeblood of Christian witness. And in a world starving for meaning, they may be the most urgent mission field of all.

Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5
October 3, 2025
A Hard Look at Modern Charity
Should We Expect the Homeless to Help Before They’re Fed?

We all want to help the poor. But what happens when help becomes a routine—something expected, no matter what? In this post, we look at a story from a soup kitchen and ask a hard question: Should charity expect effort in return?

*Q: When I worked at a soup kitchen, there were about 100 homeless people outside. Trash was all over the street. I asked, “Why not have them clean up before they get their free lunch?” The answer? There were seven soup kitchens within half a mile, and they’d just go to the next one instead. Many of the people looked well-fed. It made me wonder—should charity require something in return?

A: That’s a sharp and honest question—and a very important one. In today’s welfare society, unconditional aid has become the norm. Many institutions and charities give without asking for anything back. At first, this feels like kindness. But over time, it can cause real problems:
- It removes effort. When people know they’ll get help no matter what, some stop trying. Not all—but many.
- It removes dignity. Work—even small tasks—gives a person value and purpose. When we give without asking for anything, we may treat people as if they have nothing to offer.
- It removes responsibility. A community stays strong when everyone takes part. When some people always give and others only take, the system wears down.
Your suggestion—asking people to clean the street before lunch—is simple and fair. It offers food and a way to contribute. But as you saw, if other places ask for nothing, people will simply go where it’s easier. That’s human nature.

This is why real change often happens best at the local level, where smaller organizations, churches, or mutual aid groups can build relationships, not just routines. When people feel known and needed, they are more likely to respond with respect and effort.

So what’s the answer?

We need a model of charity that combines:
- Compassion (yes, help people in need)
- Dignity (trust that they can contribute)
- Accountability (expect something small in return)
This doesn’t mean turning people away who can’t work. But it does mean offering a better path to those who can. A simple job like picking up trash or helping in the kitchen can make a big difference—not just for the community, but for the person doing it.

Conclusion:

Free meals are good. But earned meals are better—not because they cost less, but because they mean more. The goal of charity should never be just to fill a stomach. It should be to help a person rebuild their life, step by step.

Written in collaboration with ChatGPT
May 25, 2025
What Is the Right Way to Help the Poor?

Many people want to help those in need. But sometimes, the way we help can hurt more than it helps—especially if it takes away a person’s sense of dignity or worth. A short story or memory can help us think more clearly about this problem. Here is a reflection and answer on what real charity looks like.

Q: I knew a priest in a small parish. Poor people would come to him asking for food. He would hand them a broom and ask them to sweep the church parking lot while he prepared them something to eat. If they didn’t try hard, they got no food. I also noticed that mulberries are a kind of fruit that you can only eat if you pick them yourself, because they are so fragile. You never see them in the grocery store. And I think the Bible says farmers should not go back to collect parts of the harvest they missed, so poor people could gather it. I also remember President Reagan told a story about a little girl who wanted to help the poor. He said, “Go pick some fruit, sell it, and give the money to someone who needs it.” But the girl asked, “Why can’t the poor person just pick the fruit himself?”

A: You are touching on an old and important question: how can we help people in need in a way that also respects their dignity?

Let’s look at each of the stories you shared:

The priest with the broom: He gave food, but only after asking for a little work. This shows a deep kind of wisdom. He didn’t just feed the person—he helped them feel useful. He gave them a way to take part in the life of the church. That kind of charity is not just about giving things away. It is about helping people stand on their own feet. Saint Paul wrote something similar: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

The mulberries: These fruits are a great picture of how effort and reward often go together. They are too soft and delicate to sell in stores. If you want to enjoy them, you have to go out and pick them yourself. Nature sometimes works this way—some of the sweetest things can only be reached through hard work.

The Bible and gleaning: In the Old Testament, farmers were told not to harvest every last bit of their crops. They had to leave the edges and anything they dropped for the poor to gather. But the poor still had to go out and pick it up. This wasn’t just a free gift—it was an opportunity to work and eat. It kept both justice and dignity.

Reagan’s story: The little girl’s question—“Why can’t the poor pick the fruit themselves?”—might seem harsh, but it shows a real problem. Sometimes, people who want to help forget that the best kind of help doesn’t do everything for someone. It gives them a way to help themselves.

So what do all these examples show?

The best kind of charity is not just about making people comfortable. It’s about giving them a way to grow, to work, and to feel human. When we give without asking anything in return, we might take away a person’s chance to feel useful and strong.

Real love doesn’t just give. It invites the other person to join in, even if it’s something small—like sweeping a parking lot or picking fruit. That kind of charity is full of truth. And it helps people become whole again.

Conclusion:
Real charity is not soft or weak. It is strong and wise. It gives people what they need, but also calls them to take part in their own healing. When we help others, we must remember: giving is good—but giving in a way that respects a person’s dignity is even better. That is love with truth.

Q&A with ChatGPT

May 6, 2025