Take Mercy With You … And Use It Often

Here we are … about 10 days into the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Christmas is around the corner, and with it opportunities to spend time with friends and family.

Having said that, I hope you will give me a chance to explain why I believe this is such a great time to practice the Spiritual Work of Mercy that asks us to “admonish sinners.”

That phrase sounds harsh – not just now, but any time you say it. To me, at least, it’s the first word – admonish – that proves so unsettling. We know that we’re all sinners. How is it, then, that we are in any position to admonish anyone?

Are you kidding? Who better to admonish someone than you or me? You also can add those friends and family mentioned above. All of us should admonish people on a regular basis – especially during this Jubilee of Mercy.

If you’ve read this far, I suspect you’re thinking I truly am a Scrooge. Nothing could be more inaccurate. To prove it … Google the phrase “definition of admonish.” The search results begin with a dictionary-style entry that includes three possible definitions.

The first is, “warn or reprimand someone firmly;” the third is “warn (someone) of something to be avoided.”

It’s the second definition I have in mind when saying that this is such a great time to “admonish sinners.” That second definition tells us that to admonish is to “advise or urge earnestly.”

That’s awesome … and a perfect work of mercy to practice now and at every opportunity. It’s also possible to substitute the word invite for the word advise – or urge, for that matter. Here are some examples:

• Invite someone to join you for Mass.
• Invite someone to join you for a visit to Eucharistic Adoration.
• Invite someone to tag along when you go to Confession; in doing so, advise them of a wonderful thought from Pope Francis: “God never tires of forgiving us; it is we who tire of asking Him for forgiveness.”
• Invite someone to practice one or more of the Corporal Works of Mercy. They include:
• feed the hungry;
• give drink to the thirsty;
• clothe the naked;
• shelter the homeless;
• visit the sick;
• visit the imprisoned;
• bury the dead.
• Invite someone to forgive; forgiving also is a Spiritual Work of Mercy.
• Invite someone to pray with you for the living and the dead; praying like that is another Spiritual Work of Mercy.

It occurs to me that making any of the invitations helps you to actually encounter someone “where they are” – not where you are, or where you would like them to be.

As we continue forward through this “calendar of mercy” that our Holy Father has given us, it seems wise (from here, at least) to add a daily “to do” – “urge, advise or invite someone earnestly.”

God will let you know who “someone” is. God will let you know what you should be urging, advising or inviting … earnestly.

I advise you to at least think about this. I urge you to pray about it … and listen for what God tells you about it. I invite you to give it a try.

Wishing you and your family a Blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas!